CAIRO: Nokia launched a new range of handsets in Egypt at a press conference at the Intercontinental Semiramis Hotel in Cairo Wednesday. Nokia's Head of Sales for North East Africa Sherif Barakat, Mohamed Essawi, the company's head of "Go To Market for North East Africa, and Dana Adnani Al Mubaidin, communication manager for Nokia North and North East Africa, presented the new models. The handsets include the Xpress Music series 5310 and 5610 models, which are being marketed as a mobile phone and portable music player in one, featuring easy-to-use control buttons along the sides, lengthy playback times, large memories and high-speed download and transfer times. "We hope these models will consolidate our lead in the mobile entertainment market, said Eddy Rizk, Nokia's North East Africa manager. Also launched were the Nokia 6500 Classic and 6500 Slide, and the boutique Nokia 8800 Arte and the 8800 Sapphire Arte, both featuring 3.2 megapixel auto focus cameras, the latter of which features a select key made from a sapphire. All models will be able to access Nokia's recently launched "Ovi internet service in Egypt, which gives access to music, movie, and game downloads, as well as a range of other online applications. Access to the Global Positioning System is still prohibited in Egypt, however, due to government security concerns. Nokia, which launched its office in Cairo in September 2007 and currently employs 450 people here, is the mobile phone market leader in the Middle East and North Africa.
