Nokia to shut Romania plant.To cut 3,500 jobs
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia Oyj, the world's largest cellphone vendor by volume, is cutting 3,500 jobs in its second major restructuring in six months as it struggles with falling sales and profits.
Chief executive Stephen Elop, who took over at Nokia a year ago, unveiled the plans which include a factory closure and a new executive chairman for telecom gear joint venture Nokia Siemens Networks, on Thursday.
The company said it would close the Cluj factory in Romania which opened just four years ago and manufactured more simple cellphone models, leading to 2,200 job losses.
The plant turnover was comparable to 1.3 percent of Romania's GDP last year, but Eastern European investment group Avaron said due to large component flows the value created at the plant was smaller, giving a rough estimate of around 0.25 percent of GDP.
Nokia said a further 1,300 jobs would be cut at its Location & Commerce business unit, which includes the world's largest digital mapping business Navteq.
Nokia said it was also evaluating the future of its plants in Finland, Mexico and Hungary and this would result in job cuts next year.
The latest redundancies come on top of cost cut plans set out in April which included laying off 4,000 staff. Thursday's cuts are included in Nokia's savings target of more than one billion euros, which was unveiled in July.
"This is very shocking. As if they had no policy at all in human resources, only lay-off talks rolling all the time. I wonder how people can work there, how people can focus at all," Pertti Porokari, the chairman of Finnish engineers' union (UIL), told Reuters.
"For sure the company is going through a massive reform, but it feels like the new direction is not quite under control."
Nokia has struggled this year with falling sales and profits after the group said in February it would switch to Microsoft Corp software for its smartphones, but the first of these models will reach the market only later this year.
"We are seeing solid progress against our strategy, and with these planned changes we will emerge as a more dynamic, nimble and efficient challenger," Elop, Nokia's first foreign chief executive, said in a statement.
Nokia's share price has halved since it announced the Microsoft deal on worries the company will lose so much market share before the new phones come out that it might never make up lost ground.
Nokia's quarterly phone sales to end-June dropped 20 percent at a time when market grew 10 percent, and its 15-year reign at the top of the smartphone market ended as both Apple and Samsung Electronics surpassed it.
"Now the volume has come down, clearly Nokia is looking for new saving targets," said analyst Jari Honko from Swedbank in Helsinki.
"I hope this extensive review does not mean that Nokia has lost so much scale that in-house production will no longer be competitive. It has been the most important strengths of Nokia," Honko said.
The shares were flat at 4.18 euros by 1100 GMT, in line with the sector.
Separately, Nokia supplier Digia said it had agreed to cut 170 jobs in its Finnish operations, and could cut up to 80 more as it revamped its business.
Nokia also said it and Siemens AG will both inject 500 million euros ($680 million) into their 50:50 telecom gear joint venture Nokia Siemens Networks.
Jesper Ovesen would take over as executive chairman of Nokia Siemens Networks, replacing former Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia said.
Ovesen, who has worked as chief financial officer at many top Danish firms helped to turn Lego around during his spell as CFO of the toy group in 2003-2007 and took telecoms operator TDC public late last year.
Siemens and Nokia would like to take Nokia Siemens Networks public at some point, but the company has struggled to report profits, battling against aggressive rivals Huawei and Ericsson.
Separately, Nokia Siemens said it has won an order from Bharti Airtel to upgrade, build and manage networks in seven African countries.
Tag :
NOKIA
Amazon’s Tablet Kindle fire launched for $199
Bangalore: Amazon launched its much awaited Kindle fire tablet for $199, the latest--and possibly biggest--challenger to Apple Inc.'s dominant iPad.The $199 device that will run on modified version of Google's Android operating system has a 7-inch screen nd can access Amazon's app store, streaming movies and TV shows.
The tablet will go on sale from Nov 15 and the pre-orders will start from today.
Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos said, "We asked ourselves, Is there some way we can bring all of these things together [web service, Prime, Kindle, instant video and its app store] into a remarkable product offering customers would love. Yes there is Kindle Fire," during the launch.
The cheapest new Kindle will cost $79, and dispenses with the keyboard the Kindles have carried since the first model launched in 2007. Previously, the cheapest Kindle cost $114.
Amazon is also bringing out the first black-and-white Kindle with a touch screen. It will cost $99 and is reminiscent of Barnes & Noble's latest Nook. A version with access to AT&T's cellular network for book downloads will cost $149.
Bezos said that most of the content is backed up in the cloud, and that the device features wireless synching. The specifications are however lower when compared to higher end tablets in the category. Though it has a dual core processor and is 3G enabled, it lacks other features like camera and a microphone. Fire includes an IPS display, an ultra-wide viewing angle, and fast dual-core processor
On the e-reader front, Bezos said the Kindle Touch e-book includes an advanced E Ink display, infrared touch interface, extra long battery life, access to millions of e-books, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Audible integration, and more, including a feature known as X-Ray, which shows the "bones" of a book, or details Amazon thinks a reader would find interesting.
It would be interesting to see how it survives in an already crowded tablet market. So far Apple's iPad has been the most popular tablet for its ease of use, elegant design and selection of over 90,000 apps. The iPad has sold 29 million versions since its introduction, owning more than two-thirds of the market.
So far, iPad rivals like HP's touchpad, Research in Motion's Playbook, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s Galaxy Tab and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s Xoom have failed to attract mass audiences.
For Amazon, its relationships with its users could be its biggest advantage and also the smart pricing might help them.
Tag :
iPAD
Interview tips you dare not miss
While appearing for an interview, questions may differ from industry to industry, but some dos and don’ts remain the same.
Interview is your first impression on your dream company after your resume. From clothes to conduct to language to information to skill – everything is important. Employers don’t just want a skilled person, they want a complete package of skills and soft skills. Questions may differ from industry to industry, but some dos and don’ts remain the same. Here are a few tips for your next interview:
Know yourself
Though more important for first timers, but even those who have worked for a few years tend to short sell themselves. Know your strong, weak and saleable points. Understand the job profile thoroughly and articulate your words accordingly.
Though more important for first timers, but even those who have worked for a few years tend to short sell themselves. Know your strong, weak and saleable points. Understand the job profile thoroughly and articulate your words accordingly.
Know the interviewer
In times of social networking and professional networking it’s very easy to know the person you are scheduled to meet. Try to look up the profile of the interviewer, it will help you conduct yourself in the right way.
In times of social networking and professional networking it’s very easy to know the person you are scheduled to meet. Try to look up the profile of the interviewer, it will help you conduct yourself in the right way.
Identify saleable points and talk well about them
You know your job and your achievements more than anyone. Be prepared and prioritise them in your head. Depending on the profile state nice and crisp without sounding verbose.
You know your job and your achievements more than anyone. Be prepared and prioritise them in your head. Depending on the profile state nice and crisp without sounding verbose.
Do not keep personals on the table
This includes everything from - bag, wallet, mobile and also your elbows. In terms of body language, this is a complete no. Don’t rest yourself o the table and keep your bag near the chair you are sitting on.
This includes everything from - bag, wallet, mobile and also your elbows. In terms of body language, this is a complete no. Don’t rest yourself o the table and keep your bag near the chair you are sitting on.
Informal formality
That’s the style for an interview these days. You have to be proper, without being stiff.
That’s the style for an interview these days. You have to be proper, without being stiff.
Dress smart
Your dress up may not be the only thing, but it’s the first thing to be noticed. Wearing formals is safe and best. Stay away from T-Shirts and torn jeans. Comfort and cleanliness should be the motto.
Your dress up may not be the only thing, but it’s the first thing to be noticed. Wearing formals is safe and best. Stay away from T-Shirts and torn jeans. Comfort and cleanliness should be the motto.
Ladies, be minimal
We are asking you to dress smart and not provocative. Stay away from plunging neck lines or short skirts. Heavy duppattas and too much jewelry will also be difficult to handle and will distract both the parties.
We are asking you to dress smart and not provocative. Stay away from plunging neck lines or short skirts. Heavy duppattas and too much jewelry will also be difficult to handle and will distract both the parties.
If you don't know the answer accept it
It’s not necessary that everyone knows everything. Please do not cook up, if you don't know the answer say so. Don't jump to answer a question, take time to think.
It’s not necessary that everyone knows everything. Please do not cook up, if you don't know the answer say so. Don't jump to answer a question, take time to think.
Don't try to be a wisecrack
Sense of humour is great, but in an interview you will be judged for things which matter to the company. Be light hearted but don’t be frivolous. For phone interviews, don’t let sarcasm make way through your voice.
Sense of humour is great, but in an interview you will be judged for things which matter to the company. Be light hearted but don’t be frivolous. For phone interviews, don’t let sarcasm make way through your voice.
Everyone wants a positive person
This may sound like a cliche, but be good human being. Employers are looking for more than skills. Be smart, don't criticise and don't accept criticism, tackle it.
This may sound like a cliche, but be good human being. Employers are looking for more than skills. Be smart, don't criticise and don't accept criticism, tackle it.
Learn from every interaction
Every job profile has its own requirements. Don’t be disheartened if you are not called for the next round. Review it in your mind and do your learning and move to the next one.
Every job profile has its own requirements. Don’t be disheartened if you are not called for the next round. Review it in your mind and do your learning and move to the next one.
Liked these tips?
Add your own super tips for an interview and help others win
Add your own super tips for an interview and help others win
Tag :
CAREERS
Apple to unveil new iPhone
San Francisco, Sep 28 (IANS) Apple Inc looks set to introduce its iPhone 5 at a special event next week.
The invitation-only event will be held Oct 4 at Apple campus in Cupertino, California, Xinhua reported Tuesday.
This could be the first big product launch by the newly installed chief executive officer Tim Cook after he took over the reins of Apple from Steve Jobs in August.
According to US media reports, the iPhone 5 is expected to have a larger screen, a higher resolution camera and a faster dual-core A5 chip on which the iPad 2 runs.
Apple is also reported to release a low-cost and contract- free iPhone model bundled with its cloud computing service iCloud.
Tag :
APPLE
Facebook tracks what you do online even when you're logged out
Canberra, Sept 26 (ANI): An Australian technologist has claimed that Facebook can track the web pages you visit, even when you are logged out of the social networking giant.
According to Wollongong-based Nik Cubrilovic, when the user is logged out of Facebook, rather than deleting its tracking cookies, the site merely modifies them, maintaining account information and other unique tokens that can be used to identify its users.
This simply means that any time you visit a web page with a Facebook button or widget, your browser is still sending personally identifiable information back to Facebook.
"Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit," Cubrilovic wrote in a blog post.
"The only solution is to delete every Facebook cookie in your browser, or to use a separate browser for Facebook interactions," he added.
Cubrilovic said he tried to contact Facebook to inform it of his discovery but did not get a reply, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
He said there were significant risks to the privacy of users, particularly those using public terminals to access Facebook.
"Facebook are front-and-centre in the new privacy debate just as Microsoft were with security issues a decade ago," Cubrilovic said.
"The question is what it will take for Facebook to address privacy issues and to give their users the tools required to manage their privacy and to implement clear policies - not pages and pages of confusing legal documentation, and 'logout' not really meaning 'logout'," he added. (ANI)
Tag :
FACEBOOK