Nokia to set up a testing lab in Riyadh

Nokia is planning to set up a testing laboratory in the Kingdom to train software developers, said Jussi Hinkkanen, vice president of Corporate Relations for Nokia Middle East and Africa. “The proposed laboratory will be set up in the Al-Yamamah University in Riyadh where it has a separate center for Microsoft innovation,” Hinkkanen said. Nokia has a separate stall under the Finnish pavilion at the “International Exhibition and Forum for Education (IEFE),” which was inaugurated by Education Minister Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah at the Riyadh Exhibition Center on Monday. The show that attracted more than 60,000 visitors during the first two days of the exhibition is a key platform for educational professionals for networking and also it features the latest educational products and services offered by more than 22 countries under one roof. Hinkkanen, who delivered a lecture on Nokia Mathematics, said that this company is interested in capacity building among its dealers and software developers in the Kingdom and in the region to ensure quality service for its customers. He said that Nokia was interested in displaying its products and services at the show since it deems the Kingdom as an important market in the region. He recalled that Finnish State Secretary Tapio Kosunen visited the Nokia headquarters in Finland, where he requested the company to participate in the event since the country is the guest partner in the show. “We just want to show the visitors to the show that Nokia has come back with two new smart devices —Nokia Lumia,” he said, stressing that it is not only a phone but also a tool for education. He said that his company has been developing Nokia Mathematics for the past fours years. “The device is a teacher in the pocket,” he said, indicating that a child can learn the subject without any outside assistance. Besides, Nokia has some solutions for education, he noted, pointing out that its has Nokia Reading, which has a book store where the users can choose the books of their choice. Hinkkanen said the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the world’s most innovative smartphones based on Windows Phone 8 in the region are marketed with exclusive operator partnership with Mobily in the Kingdom. The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including Arabic language capabilities and the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. “In the beginning of last year, Nokia outlined a new smartphone strategy to deliver devices that not only surpassed their predecessors but revolutionized the industry. We are now proud to stand here and present the most innovative device in the history of Nokia, embodying the height of technology, design and user-experience,” he said. “The availability of a user interface in the local language combined with strong operator offerings are two key elements in satisfying demands of consumers from the region. We are confident that the most innovative smartphone — the Lumia 920 will be a milestone for the company as a whole,” he added.