In a keynote speech at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo has said that mobile communications have played a big role in bringing hope and higher living standards to billions of people.
"The trend promises to accelerate in the coming decade, as the power and capabilities of smartphones spread across the globe", he added.
Mr Kallasvuo also announced the $1 million Nokia Growth Economy Venture Challenge that aims to encourage innovate ways to help people and promote upward mobility around the world.
"We've seen what the tech community can do when it focuses on problems that are also opportunities", he said. "We want to channel that energy toward improving lives in the developing world."