During the spring of 2002, the mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and the mobile phone operator Sonera will launch the world's first MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) on the Finnish market. This will enable the transmission and reception of sound and digital images over the mobile phone network.

The multimedia messaging service, MMS, is based on third generation mobile phone technology. The companies predict it will become the first 3G application to be extensively used by consumers. The multimedia messages enabling the transmission of sound, digital images and text is a first step to a wireless Internet.

Nokia believes Finns will adopt the new service quickly. This belief is based on the surprising popularity of the simple text message technology. Operators, in particular, want those consumers who are excited about text messaging to produce new kinds of mobile content that combine sound, picture and text.

Nokia is attempting to promote picture communication by bringing onto the market its first camera phone, the Nokia 7650, with which it is possible to take digital images and send them. In 2003, all new Nokia mobile phones entering the market will have the MMS option.

>> www.nokia.com
>> www.sonera.com

With a picture phone it is possible to send postcards of the mobile era