Thread: Nokia: Maemo phones won't be tailored for carriers, operators may reject
View Single Post
Crashdamage is offline Crashdamage
2009-09-11 , 12:12
Posts: 670 | Thanked: 747 times | Joined on Aug 2009 @ Kansas City, Missouri, USA
#165
Originally Posted by dantonic View Post
@Crashdamage
Maybe they should use the N900 to get the attention of the customer base.
I think that's their plan, yeah. Use it to create a loud buzz.

Apple was already popular because of its Ipods... one could argue that it was easier for them to dictate the way the Iphone was launched, as opposed to letting the providers make the rules.
For sure, Apple already had clout. Same goes for Nokia outside the US. They're trying to use that popularity to do something with the N900 similar to Apple did with the iPhone - take it as is or leave it. It might work...

Nokia could build interest with this "4th Step" and then gradually move towards the "unaltered" option with their subsequent maemo devices.
If they let the carriers modify Maemo now, they'll never be able to put that back in the bottle. Set the rules and stick by them.

I guarantee you the N900 will sell much much less in the US if it is unsubsidized than it would otherwise, altered or not.
Absolutely. And if successful, the N900 or it's children will be offered subsidized, no doubt. But the iPhone started out unsudsidized at $500-600, built demand, got subsidized later - and gadget history was made, despite flawed hardware/software, a single lousy carrier and high price. Appears to me Nokia wants to try and follow that model.