The greatest shift is happening right now. It’s the shift of connecting the unconnected – and the opportunity to bring information, knowledge and services directly to more than six billion people on our planet – that will drive our future. Mobile phones have a profound impact on people’s lives – on the way they live, the way they work and the way they connect. Studies have revealed that on average, 10 mobile phones per 100 people increases GDP by 0.6%.

Socio-economically, the emerging markets in Middle East and Africa represent both the vast growth potential in many of the rural, unconnected areas and the more developed urban cities in many of these countries. Each day, 1.8 million people globally become mobile phone users, with the majority of these people being from countries like Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.

Mobile phone usage in Pakistan

In emerging markets, mobile phones are being used in new and innovative ways. Such examples reflect the difference mobile innovation is making in the world. People from Pakistan’s rural areas are also using their mobile phones to earn their livelihood more efficiently. Gul Ghani Shah is currently working in Karachi as Security Guard. He uses his Nokia mobile phone to stay in contact with his family which lives in a small town of NWFP, Kohat. His mobile phone also helps him to urgently contact the Security Services Company in case of any threat or mishap.

Millions of people who are living in small towns especially those from the rural areas are now reshaping their lives by being more connected with one another through mobile devices. The innovation which was earlier considered a luxury and supposedly designed for the urban population is gradually becoming an integral part of people in rural areas.

As the leading mobile phones manufacturing company, Nokia is coming up with a series of innovative services that are designed not only for the urban population but also for people living in rural areas.

At a launch event held in the Egyptian capital Cairo, Nokia has unveiled the latest device in the company’s range focused on mapping and navigation, the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition.

The new arrival is GPS enabled and pre-loaded with Nokia Maps, making it the most affordable GPS device in Nokia’s broad portfolio. Due to the accessible and affordable pricing, the new device is expected to be popular in the developed and developing world alike. Pakistan is one of the fastest emerging markets for Nokia. As the major part of the country consists of rural areas, Nokia is committed to bring innovations in the lives of rural population by introducing meaningful technology at the most affordable prices.

Technology craze in developing countries

Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition has been optimized for use across urban environments, small towns, as well as rural areas incorporating straight line pedestrian navigation with the assistance of an integrated digital compass. Straight line technology allows people a comprehensive range of mobile navigation capabilities for use across pathless terrains. Other features include turn-by-turn driving navigation with full voice guidance, which recalibrates routes depending on the driver’s current GPS location, all accessed with a convenient dedicated navigation key.

“There is a clear trend to provide navigation, mapping and other location based services to mobile phones, and having mapping and location based services integrated in one single mobile device rather than buying two devices is a great benefit” says Alex Lambeek, Vice President, Mobile Phones, and Nokia. “Of course, when bringing this experience to new people, new prices and new countries, you need to make sure the experience is optimized and locally relevant. With Nokia Maps, Nokia provides the broadest navigation coverage of any competitor and we continue to add new countries all the time.”

- Mansoor Abbas