Nokia fears that manufacturing defects in 14m mobile phone chargers, may expose its users to electric shocks. Thus, the Finnish company, Nokia, has decided to give away free chargers for precautionary measures, to its users, in order to avoid such an accident.

There have been no report on injury so far, but the company has decided to replace these faulty chargers. These chargers were manufactured, this year, by Chinese electronics company BYD. The Chinese Company declared in a statement that these chargers when tested internally exhibited a few problems

“The plastic covers of the affected chargers could come loose and separate, exposing the charger’s internal components and potentially posing an electrical shock hazard if certain internal components are touched while the charger is plugged into a live socket,” said the company. “Nokia is not aware of any incidents or injuries related to these chargers.”

There are three types of affected chargers, manufactured by BYD between June 15, 2009 and August 9, 2009 and with the following model types
AC -3U
AC-3E
and those manufactured by BYD between April 13, 2009 and October 25, 2009 and with the following model type
AC-4U.

Reliability and quality of products is Nokia’s top most priority. Thus, the Company has arranged exchange program for all markets in which affected chargers have been sold and distributed.

Such incidents have occurred earlier as well when in 2007, Nokia had to replace 46m batteries, due to problems of over heating. On the other hand, Sony’s defected batteries for laptops created problems for more than 6 million using Dell, Apple and Toshiba users.

Nokia launched a new attack. But this time it is not with its new device or new mobile, but this particular attack is solely on Apple. Nokia declared that Iphone infringes 10 of its patents covering both cellphone calls and wireless Internet access. Nokia claimed that forty other cell phone manufacturers have licensed these patents, but Apple hasn’t. If this issue goes in front of a judge it could cost Apple millions of dollars.

Nokia developed technology and Apple simply borrowed it. But this Borrowing and sharing is not acceptable by Nokia and thus many newspaper agencies have termed it as “a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation”. Well is there anything wrong with that. Well yes, US copyright infringement Laws say, ‘yes there is’. The two companies have been busy negotiating, where it is believed that Apple will pay license fee to Nokia. The talks failed completely at the Federal District Court in Delaware.

Iphone has rapidly eaten up Nokia’s share of lucrative smartphone market, and will continue developing it until the case comes to court by 2011. If Nokia wins its case then Apple will have to pay them back keeping in mind the number of iPhone which have been sold around the world since 2007. This could cause Apple a huge loss.

Nokia spokesperson said, “We are not seeking to disrupt the business of any operator or the company, we are looking to get appropriate compensation for our intellectual property,” he said. “For Nokia, legal action is always a last resort.The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007,” Nokia said. They also added that Nokia has spent almost €40-billion in research and development over the past two decades and has been successful in acquiring deals with 40 other companies.

“The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for,” said Ilkka Rahnasto, vice-president, Legal & Intellectual Property, at Nokia. “Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation.”

But on the other hand, lawyers have said that Nokia is playing a very dangerous game,“This is a poker game in which there is a risk that Nokia’s patents could be ruled invalid. It’s a high-risk strategy for them.”

Apples is determined to create its own path and mark its own name in the new developing technology era. Thus it is believed that it would be very unlikely of Apple to collaborate on technology standards. Cross-licensing for Apple is not an option. It has kept silent so far on this issue, but at the same time it is believed that it must be creating an effective army to fight back without offering any form collaboration.

It is seen that with the development of new technologies companies often sue each other over the usage of their innovations. The regular outcome is that either the company agrees to pay licensing fee or both the parties agree by using each other’s patents. Lets see where the decision takes the two Giants. Whether they decide to collaborate, raise charges or continue the fight till one ends up in the dungeon.

Microsoft will be launching Windows Mobile 6.5 in this October on the 6th. Then onwards, Windows Mobile 6.5 will hit the retail stores worldwide. Because this time Microsoft has planned to surprise its users by providing them improved and advanced browsing capabilities with additional access to valuable services, including Windows Marketplace for Mobile and My Phone services. Windows Mobile 6.5 is said to have a redesigned Internet Explorer Mobile browser, built-in Adobe Flash Lite support for better rendering and completion of tasks.

Its “heavily retooled user interface”, emphasizes touch interactions. The start menu will take you directly to honeymoon pattern of icons which will enable the users to easily launch programs and move directly to their desired destination. Thus the users can enter voice mails, e-mails, and missed calls directly from the lock screen. With an updated version of Internet Explorer Mobile, Windows Mobile 6.5 enables its users play Flash videos from YouTube or Hulu.

Microsoft stated: “With the new version, users can change the look and feel of their phones with designer themes or a personal background and customize their home screen with widgets so the information they need is always easy to find.”

Todd Peters, corporate vice president of the mobile communications marketing group at Microsoft, said: “A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web.”

With the launch of its store Microsoft will stand face to face in competition with its competitors Apple, Nokia, RIM, Google, and Palm, who have already launched their centralized mobile application stores .

The store will enable its users to back up and sync their contacts, photos, videos, calendars, and text messages over the air. The service is somewhat similar to Apple’s MobileMe, and Microsoft has also  announced that is easier for users to switch devices, or replace a lost smartphone.

Microsoft has now decided to change the way we make use of Internet. Today, we are waiting for the time when everyone will be using their mobile instead of their PCs to perform tasks. Now we are waiting for its launch and reaction of users worldwide.

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