Nokia has been stepping up its efforts to excite developers for its smartphones with a host of programmer competitions and initiatives, and the latest is to give its new N96 flagship handset its own TV channel.
One of the marketing pushes designed to keep interest in the N96 high even amid recession and increased competition, Capsule 96 will allow users to download ‘mobisodes’ or mini-episodes (in this case, about 96 seconds). It will also encourage developers to create these content bites to showcase their wares as well as the capabilities of the phone, which is optimized for video.
The main topics included in Capsule 96 are motoring (with a show called Cabin Fever); fashion (Portfolio); gadgets (Byte-Wize); comedy, home design, and arts/entertainment. Pulse will be a feature on the latest galleries, festivals and performances; and the comedy section will be called Funnyhaha.
The downloads are free and will be available in the UK from October 1 from the N96 web site, with mobisodes updated weekly until the end of November ‘ at this point the project will be reviewed and, subject to response, altered or extended (or presumably cancelled, making Capsule merely a launch gimmick rather than, as Nokia hopes, a service that will boost usage of the N96 and make its video offerings part of a user’s daily mobile habits, as well as attracting new content developers).
As well as attracting innovative independent programmers, Nokia will also leverage some of its high profile content partnerships via its Ovi portal, notably with the BBC iPlayer.
Nokia’s statements say Capsule will cater to a ‘new generation of time poor ‘content grazers’ who want insightful, up-to-the minute content in condensed packages to watch at their leisure’.