T-Mobile and Nokia are joining to offer new Internet services and social communities on mobile devices in Europe. The mobile-technology giants said their efforts will offer all their European customers access to T-Mobile’s web’n’walk as well as Nokia’s Ovi Internet services.
‘Widget Cooperation’
The companies said users’ access to mobile social networks will be enhanced by offering T-Mobile’s community-oriented MyFaves service, fronted by Nokia’s user experience. The alliance will also enable what they describe as “widget cooperation” between the mini-programs offered by both companies.
Nokia will customize its devices to optimize them for a dedicated suite of services from T-Mobile, and T-Mobile customers can similarly get enhanced access to Nokia services.
Christopher Schlaffer of Deustche Telekom — which owns T-Mobile — said his company’s MyFaves and web’n’walk were complementary to Nokia service offerings such as maps or games. Similarly, Nokia Executive Vice President Anssi Vanjoki described T-Mobile’s services as “a prefect match” for Ovi.
Asked if the alliance between Nokia and T-Mobile in Europe could impact the U.S. market, Avi Greengart of industry research firm Current Analysis quipped that “what happens in Europe stays in Europe.”
He noted that T-Mobile in Europe is essentially run as a separate company from its American counterpart. Deutsche Telekom, however, does see its mobile communications companies as having a worldwide service. In its announcement with Nokia, for instance, it emphasized that its companies use the GSM standard, making “T-Mobile the only mobile communications provider with a seamless transatlantic service.”
Getting Aboard Ovi
Greengart sees the big winner from this alliance as Nokia, since this is “another major European carrier who has signed on to their Ovi services in one form or another.” Greengart noted that Nokia has “managed to create a suite of services in Ovi and to get a number of European operators onboard,” including Vodafone.
Eventually, said IDC’s Chris Hazelton,…