Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

Ah quotes, I understand more and more why companies these days won't allow their employees to say basically anything.

Basically what he is saying is yes, there MAY come a day when nokia will be exiting what is now their core business, they have sort of done it before ;)

What can be said however is that their focus is already shifting much more to the services part, which is only natural since that's where the value-added is today. I, for one, am really excited to see what comes of this, they already have a good portfolio but it needs to become easier to use and people need to know about it. But right now it's like looking at a giant jigsaw puzzle that someone is putting together only he refuses to tell you what he's building, I find it very exciting :)

PS: just did a quick one minute survey and no one of my contacts on skype who were online right now even know what OVI is...

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

He may be a nice guy...but not well managed on his talking points. This type of comment diminishes credibility and causes customer confusion.

As you can see I am a Nokia loyalist... because they consistently make things that work, allow me to control my experience (not Nokia dictating how I use the products I purchase), and have an underlying ethic of providing value.

That said I'm a non-economically viable market segment- the educated consumer who is competent. Not enough of us on the planet to be profitable, nokia needs to market to normobs. Here, in the USA, Nokia is perceived as the maker of cheap phones. Yet everyone who sees my current Nokia phones is amazed by the N97 and N900.

I agree Nokia can't market their way out of paper bag. Maybe they are too nice? They have no clue as how to play the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) game that Microsoft and Apple learned to play with IBM in the 1990's. How come we have not seen a iDon't campaign come out of Espoo?

One of the reasons I'm posting after 5 years of lurking is the FUD/marketing posts that have sprung up on the site… you know the "N900….sucks" type of posts that are the domain of the self appointed techno-bloggers (thinly veiled employees of social/web marketing companies).

Mr. Vanjoki and his team are doing a disservice to all the dedicated people at Nokia, Symbian, and Maemo….Great hardware, great software, innovation, openness…lousy marketing. This is not opinion since Mr. Vanjoki's metrics are market share and mindshare - measurable and public…. and disappointing.

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

I don't think it's FUD, I think (at least in the US) it's a lack of willingness or ability to work with carriers. As far as the ability, the Qualcomm lawsuit may have something to do with this and things may be changing since it was settled. I can't really say. What I can say is that most "normobs" here buy a service which includes a phone. The only Nokia phones available with most carrier service packages are the cheap ones, hence the perception is that Nokia makes low end phones.

Until Nokia can partner with a US carrier to offer the N900, there's not much that marketing can do for them over here. There are two Nokia stores versus thousands of carrier stores and mall kiosks. The best ads in the world won't help if people can't drive down to the local mall and see the product in person.

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

It shouldn't, and if it does, it makes me sad for the state of general education.

(emphasis mine)

It's a preference to operate in markets that aren't so ridiculously restricted like ours is in the US.

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

True enough. But Nokia then suffers the consequences of that decision (and people here need to recognize that).

When the American press (including blogs) fail to recognize Nokia as a major player in the phone or OS market, it's because they aren't a major player in America. Not because of a Google, Apple, Microsoft, and/or Intel conspiracy.

Nokia still dominates the world market for phones without a presence in the American high-end market. They're happy with this even if some of us here are not. C'est la vie.

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

Nokia fought the US carrier-driven battle, lost, and is now making up. It won't happen overnight.

Re: Nokia "cannot rule out" eventual sale of core handset business
 

well Nokia has handled the US market well. I'm glad they don't let carriers rape their devices. They don't do it to Apple as much, nor RIM. It is the consumers that have suffered, and the carriers. I don't see how at&t or TMo shareholders can stomach missng out on the 5800XM, E71, and N95 financial bonanzas seen across the globe far greater than the iPhone buzz. We lost out, but we don't blame the carriers, but Nokia?!? Imagine if they'd sold the 5800 XM for $79 on contract?

Had Nokia listened to them, we'd have models as crippled as the E71x, and have negated the reason they are number one globally. They've stood up for our right to technology. When will we stand up for their noble choice?