Nokia logs on to convergence

Nokia, the world's top handset maker, said it's counting on services like its Ovi.com and WidSets to cash in on the convergence of mobile communications and the Internet.

"With the convergence of the Internet and mobility, the boundary of telecommunications and the Internet is blurring these days, making it natural for us to offer new platforms for mobile Internet services," said Tero Ojanpera, chief technology officer of Nokia. "Convergence offers great opportunities to companies such as Nokia."

The Finnish handset maker was one of the earliest to tap mobile Internet opportunities. It created a Web portal so that its phone users could download ring tones as early as 2000.