Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

I just wanted to throw this out there and see what people think. I think Nokia lacks forward thinking and strategic planning. Why? I think it's impractical that everytime there's a new Maemo device there has to be so much porting or rewriting of applications. In retrospect and especially considering Maemo6 i'm thinking Nokia needs to do much better.

Here are my reasons.

N810 required different OS because of the introduction of the keyboard. The OS for the N810 wasn't backward compatible (not sure if that's 100% accurate). I don't remember exactly but I do believe they had to do a different version of OS2008 to make it work on the N800. The N810 could not use OS2007 apps... that was really dumb! I can totally understand N800 not being able to use OS2008 apps but uhh... the other way... that's unacceptable.

Maemo6 introduces multitouch... Maemo5 doesn't have multitouch. IMHO (could be wrong) but I do believe that this is gonna require another very long waiting period for apps to be transfered.

I remember trying to decide between a N800 and the N810... when it has just barely been released. I eventually went with the N800 because of the lack of apps available for OS2008 @ the time.

Unfortunately ... I think there's even going to be a bigger waiting period perhaps for the introduction of Maemo 6 since this will not just be porting but more than likely some serious code rewrites and redesign of logic to perform well in a multitouch environment. If it's hard enough to add portrait mode... wow!!! Imagine multitouch. All this time spent rewriting apps and porting apps could be better spent writing OTHER apps and growing the number of apps. Think about how many apps maemo.org would have now had there just been ONE OS that all the apps were written for.


I think this strategy is especially counterproductive because Maemo6 almost seems tangential when compared to Maemo5. Probably I'm just making a big deal out of multitouch... perhaps? Not sure. In a way, the N900 as it's placed doesn't make much sense when you think about it. Since as soon as there are enough apps for you to play around with... the buzz will be about Maemo6. The increase of apps will slow and the attention will be focused else where.

Finally... why is the model the same? I've heard they still plan to use the same processor? How feasible a decision is that? I've heard about SnapDragon processor and all this good stuff.

I think a company who is more forward thinking would have thought about how to control change such that future improvements slide right into place. Android does a better job of this. Was about to say Nokia has done better with Symbian... but then there are feature packs and that sometimes gets in the way. There are different versions of software for different feature packs. Come on Nokia... we have only see 4 maemo devices thus far... it CANNOT be THIS hard 2 ensure backward compatibility. I just think Nokia could do SOOO much more in terms of strategic planning.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

No one HAS to implement multi-touch into their applications. In some, it would make no sense at all. Why would you need it in a game of chess, for example?

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

I think the issue of backwards compatability is going to be address with the use of Qt. Nokia certainly seem to be 'encouraging' developers in that direction.

(Maemo... the platform with Qt guys ;) )

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

A strategy with which you disagree or don't see does not equate to no strategy at all. ;)

There's been a very solid strategy, but it's been more concerned in the past with the 10,000 foot level than in the details. But there have been adjustments, and the "hacker editions" are proof.

The strategy is being continually refined, and those who have been here a while have experienced it already. Note: that is NOT a slam at newer members.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

I don't think that Nokia lacks strategic planning, but maybe you lack understanding of their strategy? :)

Honestly, none of the Maemo devices have been mainstream devices, so ensuring backwards compatibility would not be economically feasible. And actually backwards compatibility between OS 2007 and OS 2008 was better than you pointed it out. OS 2006 and OS 2007 was more of an issue.
Of course, from a technical point of view, not all decisions Nokia makes appear reasonable and some are purely political, but I'm certain they all fit into a big plan.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

If the introduction of multitouch means possibilities of unexpected input then I think the real question is "what changes will need to be made to this software so that nothing unexpected happens". It's not whether the app needs functionality, rather the question is "does multitouch introduces changes in input that might affect current program behaviour?"

If not, then ur right... the scope of applications that will require changes might be a much smaller umbrella than I was thinking.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

Nokia is suffering from the same symptoms of many large organisations - multiple products groups working in isolation on vertical products: N800,N810, N900 - Symbian Devices, etc. These groups struggle in various ways I believe - split funding, internal competition and inability to react sufficiently quickly (because of the first two points) to disruptive technology e.g. the iPhone, android. Nokia has been caught on the back foot by these 'new' technologies and having pinned its colours to Symbian in the past is looking for platforms now to differentiate, innovate and for it to be in turn disruptive to these technologies. Maemo I believe is that technology, but it is slowly gaining maturity (including upgrade paths) in a marketplace where consumers will be increasingly fickle. I agree that Nokia's strategy in the Maemo space has been 'weak' but perhaps now is the time where we will see Maemo get a clearer strategy and an investment profile worthy of such a great platform???

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

I don't think that much manpower is still put into the N800 or N810.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

The OP has good points and lots off passion in the statements. Sadly its not grounded in reality. Lets be honest here, Nokia is in business to make money. In the board room you can bet there was a lot of heated debate on the merits of backporting software.

OPK : so you want to invest 1 million euros to backport Maemo to older devices. And how many more devices sales will this generate ?
AJ : erm none, but we will have the goodwill of the community.
OPK: So all the investment we make in Maemo 5 on upstream work does not create enough goodwill for the community?
AJ: yes it does
OPK: why dont you invest 1million euros on giving new Rover devices to the community, and have lots of good events.
AJ: Ok good idea, I think that could generate an addional 300K device sales.
OPK: where do I sign

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

You mean a company should only make phones, either hardware or software and not a few models only, and not also make computers, software and maintain a large web shop?

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

People need to remember that we're part of the rounding error when it comes to Nokia. They certainly have a strategy and that strategy has made them number one in the world. The name of the strategy is Symbian. All the Maemo versions and all the Maemo devices have been the equivalent of corporate option papers.

Ultimately down the road, Nokia will decide what to do for a new generation of smartphones. It may be Maemo 6 on the announced second half device but I suspect that will be a test bed as well. We probably won't see a "step 5" Maemo OS and device until 2011. I would not even be surprised to see a new Symbian branded OS in 2011 as Nokia's "step 5".

In the strategic long term, Nokia knows what they're doing (and why). They haven't told us and I wouldn't expect them to.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

You make a very valid point. Probably I don't understand exactly what's involved in this whole process. I was of the view that if you make a proper platform, you don't need to backport anything, since it's the same platform.

I'm using Ubuntu 9.04 now. Over the last year or two there's been releases for (8.10 and 8.04). Each release doesn't invalidate all the programs I have... rather, since its the same platform the code changes are more focused (I think) on making use of the updates and fixes made.

A "change" of platform stunts not only the growth of the community I think but the number of applications in the community. In a world where there's the Android and iPhone app stores with THOUSANDS of apps... that alone unfortunately pushes alot of people away from Maemo's embarassing few applications available. Worse when the application development is like a snail on the wall... that keeps slipping back down. When OS2008 came out, the numbers of apps started @ 0 ... soon that grew and increased .. now Maemo5's here and the counter has started @ 0 again.

IMHO... being completely concerned about your bottom line NOW is not usually the most strategic vantage point and rarely is. More apps in the "maemo store" will have a great impact. Most if not all the reviews I've read that compare maemo with android/iphone always mentions the application store. We can't pretend this is not a huge influencing factor. More apps gets the attention of the community... and reaches the unconverted, inspiring them and adding points for the N900. And I'm sure that in this unconverted set are tonnes of developers.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

@jaywhy13. You only have to look at the number of bugs that say WONTFIX fixed in XXX to see that this becomes an increasing burden on increasing number of devices. Ongoing support is the real issue.

Mark Shuttleworth has invested 10Million in getting UBUNTU up and running, I'm not clear how much of this money he has returned. But then out of the 400Million he made from selling Thaiwt its small change for him, so dont think money is not an issue in Open Source.

In any case just because Maemo 6 comes out, your Maemo 5 device is no less functional than he day you bought it. I have lots of machines at home still running XP, I dont feel compelled to use Vista or windows 7.

on the apps side of things I think Nokia's strategy around Qt is the big winner for us all and will keep the N900 running for longer than worying about the OS.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

the Problem i see is when Maemo6 comes out early after the N900 is well sold and Nokia decides to bring a new Device if the N900 is then a dead piece of hardware about a lack of Support and Development for Maemo5 couse anybody do his work for Maemo6..

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

See now, if Nokia continues this same way... in a few years we'll be saying "The name of that strategy WAS Symbian". Also, permit me to be a little provocative. Is Nokia #1 because of what they did right or because there was really not much competition before? Is Nokia's marketshare fading because of something Nokia is doing wrong or because of what other companies are now doing right?

I think it can go both ways... most might argue it's a combination of both. However, what can't be disputed is that.. there are more players in the game than there were when Nokia enjoyed a large slice of the pie. Players with strategies that are obviously catching on. This calls for strategic thinking and planning, more than Nokia has done before.

This age calls for much evolution for Nokia. Symbian has had to evolve. It's great to see the confidence.. however, I'm having trouble believing and surrendering my confidence since I can't decipher strategy amidst many of their choices. Unfortunately in some respects Nokia looks like an old dog trying to learn new tricks. Maybe that's a bit harsh.. but uhh... the maemo history is one I'm not overly impressed with... compare Maemo's biography with that of the iPhone's or Android (especially Android). I expect more from a company that calls themselves a "technology company".

To think how Google gained footing in a market that's not their niche market is nothing short of amazing. If Google or Apple is strategic what do we call Nokia?

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

As far i see it Maemo 6 and Symbian^4 are very much the goal here and clear indication that Maemo will be big part of Nokias future with both having the Qt.
To me future looks bright for Nokia, but the fact is that they are late. Not in a sense that they will be doomed or anything like that, but while in 2006 concept video they showed pretty much exactly how this and next years looks it seemed that while they where doing that Apple and Google where already working on that future OS. Thought i really think that Maemo 6 has possibility to blow all those out of the water and change the tables a bit, but we will see.

Now and especially year ago we where and are still living very much the transition time where Nokia got big changes happening on it's platforms.
Symbian Foundation changed many things too. Symbian v9.5 was suppose to have multi-core CPU support, screenplay and freeway that we are going to see with Symbian^3 and Symbian^4, but these things where already there with Symbian 9.5 announced in 2007 that finally didn't see the ligh of day because of SF.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

Check out this review:
http://androidfeeder.com/android-market/

Android has over 16 000 apps roughly after 1 year.

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

It will be just as capable a device as it is before the next one is launched. The OS doesn't magically stop working nor does the hardware. There will simply be a newer alternative on the market. Who knows, you might not even like the new device because of some design decisions or Maemo 6.

This is coming from a N800 owner who decided to skip the N900 and is perfectly happy with the current device. Now that Maemo 5 has been released there have actually been more updates to software than before. For example the changes in Canola have been ported to Maemo 4 also :)

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

I think the few apps for Maemo are not only because of the low popularity but because how complicated it is to start with developing apps for Maemo. Nokia is on the right way with MADDE and WRT, global QT etc. but before that (and even now) it was (is) really hard to start. Even if you have developed an app for Maemo you have to package it and send it through devel, testing, wait for approval etc. without a good app store. So nearly every application is made by the community and not by companies because the integration between developers, applications (and how to get them on the phone) and the device owner is bad. The whole optifiy problem, SDK not always acting exactly like the device itself, forcing a newbie to install development apps etc. makes the Maemo platform look immature. If Nokia wants to be successful with Maemo in the future Maemo 6 must have got rid of all those things. You can only be successful when the end user is satisfied and currently Maemo 5 is only satisfying for a small group of persons compared to the whole market. Because of the Apple and Android app stores it has become really important to have a lot of (simple) applications with an easy installation.

Just my 2 cents...

Re: Nokia lacks strategic planning?
 

Good point. But, HTC the number one seller of Android devices is loosing marked shares. Android is good, but requires expensive hardware, as do iPhone OS. Nokia is earning money on low end devices, that is where the real marked is. The next big step for Nokia is making low end Symbian devices, 5800 kind of phones, only half the price or less. This is in fact impossible with any other (smart) OS than Symbian.

It is important to keep perspective. Android has 20,000 or something apps, but how many Android phones are sold, and how many 5800? Return of investment isn't measured in useless apps, but in units sold and the profit margin of each unit. I agree that Apple really knows how to do things, but how Android is going to make big money for producers of hardware is much more elusive.

Regarding high end devices, Nokia has the E series, in particular E71/72 and E51/52 as workhorses in the business segment, and the N series in all its incarnations.

What Nokia doesn't have, is an equivalent to the iPhone, but neither does anyone else. This is where Maemo comes in, but Nokia is in no hurry, because this marked segment is tiny compared with the mass segment and the business segment. Nokia is approaching this marked from a totally different angle than Android and Apple, completely from the ground with new software and hardware, slowly but surely. Nokia is also using Maemo simply to explore the marked, the "final" devices may very well be Symbian devices.

Another factor is that in Europe at least, people change phones every 12-15 months on average. Phones simply goes out of fashion and people wants to try different things. The iPhone is getting old now, and people are already looking for alternatives.