Nokia has announced that it will implement special applications developed for the Holy month of Ramadan developed by ASGATech, the only Forum Nokia Premium Partner in the Middle East.

The applications will be freely available from http://www.nokia.com/ramadan and will come pre-loaded with the following phones (in the Middle East): Nokia N78, Nokia N70 Music Edition, Nokia E51, Nokia 3120 Classic, Nokia 6500 Slide, Nokia 6300 and Nokia 2630. You can also download it if you own one of the phones above, or any of the following: Nokia N73, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia E90, Nokia E71, Nokia 6210 Navigator, and Nokia 6220 Classic.

The 2008 Ramadan offering includes:

• Mobile applications with user-interfaces available in Arabic, French, English and Urdu, include: Quran, Emsakya, Ramadaniat, Hajj & Umrah, Cards and Mozzaker.
• Mobile content features a choice of over 80 wallpapers, ringtones, themes and Anasheed (Islamic Songs).
• Mobile services cover Islamic landmarks, featuring major mosques in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Pakistan.

All content of the Ramadan applications has been reviewed and approved by Al Azhar Al Shareef.

Press release after the jump.

[via PC Magazine Middle & Near East]

Nokia today announced the launch of a range of mobile applications and content tailored for the Holy Month of Ramadan.  Building on last year’s offering, the new solutions are free and come preloaded in select Nokia devices or as downloadable applications for a range of Nokia devices.  The online applications can be accessed and downloaded on the compatible Nokia devices from anywhere in the world, on www.nokia.com/ramadan.

“The overwhelming response and feedback that we received from last year’s offering allowed us to improve and expand this year’s application, making it a complete solution that gives Nokia users a single and easy access to many of the cherished experiences that Muslims like to be close to during the Holy Month,” said Chris Braam, Vice President, Sales, Nokia Middle East and North Africa.

The 2008 Ramadan offering from Nokia includes the Holy Quran, which allows users to read, search, bookmark and listen to Quran recitation.  Other elements include Emsakya, Ramadaniat and Mozzaker.  Developed by ASGATech, the only Forum Nokia Premium Partner in the Middle East, all content of the Ramadan applications has been reviewed and approved by Al Azhar Al Shareef.

Building on Nokia’s existing Maps platform, the new mobile services also feature locations of major mosques in KSA, UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Pakistan, which can be navigated to using the Nokia Maps service.

“As the number one mobile device company in the world, we are now expanding into offering services and software that empower and enable Nokia device owners to fully realize the benefits of mobility, and the Ramadan applications come as part of this strategy.  In 2007, 14% of Nokia’s global net sales came from the Middle East and Africa, so this is a region that is greatly important to us and we have committed to ensuring that we are tailoring solutions that meet the local needs,” added Braam.

The 2008 Ramadan offering includes:

• Mobile applications (available on pre-loaded devices or on www.nokia.com/ramadan) with user-interfaces available in Arabic, French, English and Urdu, include: Quran, Emsakya, Ramadaniat, Hajj & Umrah, Cards and Mozzaker.
• Mobile content (available on www.nokia.com/ramadan) features a choice of over 80 wallpapers, ringtones, themes and Anasheed (Islamic Songs).
• Mobile services (available on www.nokia.com/ramadan) cover Islamic landmarks, featuring major mosques in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Pakistan.

The range of Nokia devices to offer pre-loaded Ramadan applications in the region include: Nokia N78, Nokia N70 Music Edition, Nokia E51, Nokia 3120 Classic, Nokia 6500 Slide, Nokia 6300 and Nokia 2630.

Current users of the above devices as well as existing users of the Nokia N73, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia E90, Nokia E71, Nokia 6210 Navigator, and Nokia 6220 Classic will be able to download the Ramadan applications, content and services, regardless of their location, through www.nokia.com/ramadan, which is available in English, Arabic and French.

The website www.nokia.com/ramadan is now live and preloaded devices will be available in the region next week.