Call them brazened but — they have every right to be. i didn’t have time to head over to CommunicAsia ‘09 because Nokia kept me busy, and I guess that was the whole point. For the past few years, Nokia has broken away from the CommunicAsia expo after they started to focus more on software development rather than hardware.

She didn’t have to ask me, but Nikka Abes, Nokia Corporate Communications Manager for the Philippines did throw a question, asking if the media is noticing Nokia’s new direction, focusing more on the Ovi Platform and its various services and how it integrates with S60. In the same light, the S40 platform also has its perks with Life Tools and Mail on Ovi gaining much ground in developing countries.

Breaking away from CommunicAsia was a good move. Not really to “cock-block” the media from viewing other phone brands in one big expo, but it’s more along the lines of “we have so much to present to you — we need more than an expo floor.”

For me, it was also great that we got to spend time with Nokia’s General Manager for Philippines, William Hamilton Whyte, who was easy to reach and joined us for drinks on more than one ocassion. Come the N97 launch back in the Philippines I really didn’t feel the need to interview him anymore as I’ve pretty much exhausted everything I needed to ask over a few drinks — on more than one night.

Nokia Connection ‘09 was a fruitful experience, as it always was in the past. This was the third time Nokia sent me to attend their conferences, the first being the Ovi launch two years ago and Nokia Connection ‘08 last year.

Good times.

[image c/o author]

Post from: Cellphone9