Nokia to open Ad Labs to teach mobile marketing techniques

Nokia is planning to open a series of training labs called ‘Ad Labs’ which will teach traditional advertising agencies the art of mobile marketing. Nokia revealed its plans at the Cannes International Advertising Festival 2008. Mike Baker, the VP and the head of mobile advertising in Nokia, said that Nokia’s traditional advertising staff will benefit tremendously from this training and the long time goal is to make them competent enough to create highly targeted mobile marketing campaigns for their clients. To begin with, Nokia will start Ad Labs in Boston and London.

This is a very important move as far as Nokia is concerned. Of late, Nokia has been trying hard for an image makeover – from just a mobile manufacturer to a mobile marketing conglomerate. If you take a look at Nokia’s actions in the recent past, there is a definite pattern. It acquired Enpocket, developed its own mobile internet platform Ovi, it joined hands with France Telecom, and now it’s planning to open Ad Labs for mobile marketing training. Could it get any more obvious? Surprisingly, yours truly predicted a Nokia vs. Google scenario some time back and it seems it might come true after all. What do you say?

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, Nokia.

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Nokia and France Telecom join hands to offer mobile internet services

The latest joint venture in the world of mobile phones is the one between Nokia and France Telecom. Both companies have stated that the reason behind this JV is to provide mobile based internet services to mobile users in nine European countries.

Both Nokia and France Telecom have mutually agreed to contribute equally toward this JV. According to the agreement, Orange, the mobile phone division of France Telecom, will provide its mobile music store to users. Nokia, on the other hand, will offer location based advertising and search services to Orange’s customers through its digital mapping service. This apart, both Orange and Nokia have agreed to offer mobile video games to users.

Orange’s customers can use these services as often as they want and the charges for Nokia’s services will also be added to their mobile bill, thereby eliminating the need for a separate credit card transaction.

Most people overlook Nokia when they talk about companies that will make big bucks through mobile advertising. But I think Nokia is a serious contender in the race. It started off by acquiring Enpocket, then developed its own mobile internet platform Ovi, and has now joined hands with France Telecom. I already predicted a Nokia vs. Google fight in the mobile advertising industry and going by the actions of Nokia, I think I was right in predicting that. What do you say?

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, All things mobile phones, Nokia, Mobile Web.

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