8 in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 50

While global sales of mobile phones are expected to decline by 10 this year, Nokia no longer wants to cede an inch of land to Apple. Since nearly two years, with its famous iPhone, the firm Apple blithely tramples underfoot the beds of the giant of the mobile on the market of "smartphones", which remains in strong growth. But the top of the 420 million phones sold in 2008, the Finnish manufacturer counterattack on two fronts.

Course terminals, with the future N97 which will be launched in June: with a touchscreen and a sliding keyboard, this mobile has been designed as a true "iPhone killer". But if Nokia is still leader in "smart phones" (with a market share of 40.8 in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 50.9 one year ago according to Gartner), it won't be easy of obsolete when techno icon: the iPhone has already sold more than 17 million copies...

Then, for Nokia, the battle against Apple to play also in content: the heavy weight of the mobile will open in may its own store software, games, music and videos OviStore to counter Apple's AppStore. And to fill, it builds on the "entertainment" is where the computer manufacturer prefers the innovative applications of the Web. "We believe that the consumer will prefer entertainment pure technology and want easy access to all kinds of content with a mobile which is not necessarily very expensive", said Niklas Savander, Vice President of Nokia supported services.

Very present at MIP - TV, the market of television programmes held in Cannes, the Finns will announce this morning a groundbreaking agreement with a star of Hollywood: Tim Kring, the creator of the cult "heroes" series, broadcast in the United States by NBC in France by TF1. The latter will create interactive mini-series specifically designed for the mobile and Internet TV. Nokia promises an intense experience in the "mobile" that will have the opportunity to interact in the course of history, individually or in group. Known as code name "teva", this entertainment to which can access 300 millions of owners of a suitable mobile (Nokia Series 40, 60, N97...) will be released from this summer. Is not known because the Finns wants to create "buzz."

Many "deals".

One thing is sure, Nokia multiplies the "deals" for its OviStore. Other agreements should follow with Hollywood, but the manufacturer will not be co-producer. "Each his trade, we propose to audiovisual producers our technological expertise and a network of distribution without equal in the mobile world", argues Niklas Savander. The group already rallied to his store of providers as EA (video games), Paramount and Fox (cinema), social networks like MySpace and Facebook, or developers who work for the iPhone as the creators of Shazam (software that allows to identify a piece to listening).

Nokia therefore decided to replicate the winning model of the AppStore. It must be said that the Apple store is a phenomenal success: with 25,000 applications and 800 million downloads to date, sales could reach $ 1 billion this year. Nokia already promises 20,000 applications for its OviStore and also has to pay on sales made via its store. To put Apple in its place, the heavy weight of the mobile development on its huge customer base and its "very close relationship" with the telecom operators. But he left with a sacred delay train.