A leading world mobile handset maker, Nokia, on Wednesday opened a regional research center for Africa to carry out research into its products and services across the continent.
The Nokia Research Africa (NoRA) will allow Nokia to better understand the needs of its African customers in order to develop devices that can offer benefits in health care and education.
Speaking at the launch of NoRA in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, team leader Jussi Impio said that mobile communication has already played a significant role in the socioeconomic fabric of Africa.
"Our focus is on the youths who make up the larger populace of this continent. Our research work will enable us to design products and services that are relevant and add value to their lives" said Impio.
Impio also said the NoRA will work with universities and non- governmental organizations to develop prototypes of devices that are suited to the African market, as well as study the telecommunications services sector on the continent.
Mobility brings with it a range of benefits not only on a socioeconomic front, but in day-to-day life.
An increase in mobile penetration has been found to bring impacts positively on the growth of a country's GDP, a clear indication that the mobile communication industry has a major role to play in the growth of any country.
The NoRA has carefully selected its partners to ensure that the research methods and resulting technologies are relevant and connect with the communities involved.
"We have chosen to work with NGO's and institutions of higher learning because these institutions have an understanding and knowledge of the communities. By working with them, we can ensure accuracy in our research methods and findings," said Impio.
In Kenya, the NoRA is already undertaking a study in Nairobi's Huruma residential estate, through the partnership with SlumCode, aimed at understanding the dynamics of informal music industry in urban slum communities.
Other areas that the NoRA is interested in include entrepreneurship, energy management, health care, education, transportation, social media, arts and culture. |
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