Nokia to open research centre in Kenya

Mobile phone maker Nokia is set to open a regional research center to study consumer behavior in low-income communities. The study is aimed at understanding the needs of mobile users in Africa in order to create concepts that address these needs. The research Lab dubbed Nokia Research Africa is partnering with local Non Governmental Organizations and universities.

The research team leader Jussi Impio told Kenyan broadcast corporation (KBC) that the research would help Nokia company to design products and services that are relevant and add value to the lives of the users.As of April 1, 2007, we had R&D centers in 11 countries and employed 14,500 people in research and development, representing approximately 32% of Nokia’s total workforce. Research and Development expenses totaled EUR 3,9 billion in 2006, representing 9,5% of Nokia’s net sales. We invest a substantial portion of our resources in research and development activities within our principal business groups; Mobile Phones, Multimedia and Enterprise Solutions, Technology Platforms, and in the Nokia Research Center (NRC).

Nokia Research Center has a unique mission to lead Nokia into the future: NRC will be the global leader of open innovation for human mobility systems of the fused physical and digital world, giving birth to the growth of businesses for Nokia.Nokia Research Center was founded in 1986 from the Nokia Electronics R&D unit, with the a workforce of 86 persons. Today, NRC employs roughly 800 researchers from 43 countires and a wide variety of fields. Representing just over 4% of Nokia’s R&D employees, NRC researchers produce about one half of Nokia’s essential patents, and 34% of all Nokia invention reports (2006).Meanwhile another mobile phone company Mi phone says its market share is growing fast having sold out over 10,000 units in Kenya since it was launched three months ago.

In a statement, Mi says most of its customers are urban youth cell phone users. “Within three months of launching, Mi has secured nationwide deals with leading distributors’ FoneXpress@Nakumatt in Kenya, Melcom in Ghana, Cell 2 Cell in Uganda, Mauritel in Mauritius and Madagascar. Additional deals in Nigeria and Burkina Faso have also been tied up”, it says.

Mi Global Sales Director, Alpesh Patel said: “The Q2 sales in our first operational period are unparalleled in the mobile market in Africa. Our success lies in rapid delivery to market. The Mi brand speaks directly to urban youth in frontier markets offering fashionable choices and affordability. We offer consumers affordable access to the jet-set world of glamour and style”.

Patel anticipates further upswings in growth over the next two quarters as the current brand staple; the Mi200f colour/FM radio will flank the Mi300f as distribution extends to peri-urban and rural market segments. Mi Phone is a brand name and public trading name and in all customer and media communications of Oceanic Digital Jamaica Ltd (ODJ).ODJ is a wholly owned subsidiary of América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AMX; NYSE: AMX; Nasdaq: AMOV; LATIBEX: XAMXL), the leading provider of wireless services in Latin America.

Tsvangirai advised to pull out of Zim talks

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Lovemore Madhuku has called on MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of the power sharing talks since Robert Mugabe has rejected to give him the executive powers.

Commenting on the just ended SADC heads of state summit held in South Africa, Madhuku who is the chairman of National Constitutional Assembly said it was well known that Mugabe will never give Tsvangirai the powers to rule the country.

The SADC heads of state summit also failed to break the political impasse on Zimbabwe although the talks were also held on the sidelines of the summit.Madhuku said despite the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both parties had failed to reach an agreement and end the suffering that is now threatening our human survival.

They promised to come to some agreement in two weeks and they have not done that. They have not even told people what the reasons are. This is really a display of politicians, collectively – both ZANU PF and MDC – being extremely arrogant, Madhuku said.

Madhuku who has been lobbying for a new people driven constitution said the Movement foe democratic Change has neglected the civic organizations in the crisis talks adding hat the opposition leader should form a united front with civic, student, churches and labour groups.

Tsvangirai must put pressure on Robert Mugabe as has been the norm and build a united force that pushes Mugabe out. So he should pull out of the talks.Morgan Tsvangirai walked out of talks with Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara resulting in the power sharing talks being adjourned only to resume at the SADC heads of state summit in South Africa.In an interview with the New York Times, Tsvangirai revealed that it is better not to sign than sign a bad deal that would soon jeopardize the Zimbabwean people who are still to recover from the Robert Mugabe policies.Meanwhile Tsvangirai has embarked on a regional tour saying the situation in the country requires the input of other African leaders. He is expected to tour the Southern African region as he awaits the talks to resume in the next couple of days.

Zambian president dies

Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa has died. Death robbed the country of its leader this morning from the military hospital in France where he was admitted since June this year. In an address to the nation on State Radio and Television this afternoon, Vice President Rupiah Banda broke the sad news to the country.His death comes at a time when the political mirage was changing in the country. Civil society and the labor movement were busy pressurizing parliament not to accept Cabinet’s proposal to increase their salaries and allowances by 15% in the absence of the President.

On the other hand, the opposition Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development have been reported as considering forming an elections pact to defeat the ruling MMD once anticipated early elections are called.According to the Zambian law, the Electoral Commission has to call for a Presidential by-election within three months.The late President has been bed ridden in France after suffering a stroke while attending an AU Summit in Egypt in June.

Since taking office in 2001, Mwanawasa’s health has been a major issues mostly among the opposition but some how won their admiration for his driving force in fighting corruption in the country by bringing to court high profile people like his predecessor Frederick Chiluba who was found guilty two years ago by the London High court but the judgment is still being contested in the Lusaka Supreme Court before it was effected by the Zambian government.Chiluba’s co-accused former chief of Intelligence Xiever Chungu and Secretary to the Treasury Atton Synsonga are currently on the run from the same charges.

Mwanawasa will probably be remembered most for his strong stance on zero tolerance on corruption and for publicly calling for level playing field in Zimbabwe’s just ended harmonized elections.Vice President Banda has declared Tuesday next week as period for national mourning. Most activities have been postponed and the national flag will be flying half mast while all radio and television stations play marshal music.This is the first time in Zambia for a leader not to complete his term of office. He was supposed to leave office in 2011 having been been president for two consecutive terms of five years each.Mwanawasa has left a widow and 6 children.