Nokia certainly isn't in an enviable position right now. Symbian^4 and Harmattan devices (early 2011 and late 2010 respectively) are the only things in the high end that are worth looking forward to IMHO. Anything before that including the N8 are just something they need to do in order to retain at least some relevance while others are pushing stuff out left and right.

Samsung and LG are very tough in the midrange TS phones where Nokia is expanding and the cheapo Chinese phones are eating their lowest end.

Their bad performance in North America affects their image in the English speaking web/press which I think is kind of contagious on this side of the pond too. I've been thinking about what they need to do to get some buzz going and I thought I'd never say this but they need carrier support from a major American operator. It seems to me that getting a high end model to an American carrier is kind of a "seal of approval" for the US tech blogs and buyers. The carrier flagship phones, iPhone, Droid, Pre etc. seem to get an enormous amount of exposure. Obviously that's futile if there aren't competitive devices, which again I don't see before Harmattan or S^4.

Addition: I think the brand still has quite a lot of power. Long time Nokia users looking for high end products are frustrated because Nokia doesn't have much to offer and are moving to alternatives. But I also think if and when Nokia gets something really competitive out the brand helps a lot in converting those people back.

and very bad at the financial analysis - Nokia means nothin in the US - oh no you cry - last year US sales made up 5% of their market

The fact aht us sales are down to 4% is really rather unimportnat

Overall sales in Europe (their main market) are broadly in line with inflation and overall sales are up by 16%. So until Apple start selling in china (oh wait that will never happen as they are way to expensive!) Nokia have some captive markets

Android is the real threat but I think Nokia phones are not as slick as the iphone, but they are as touch screen aware and as slick as most android phones. My girly has a cheap Nokia - do you realise how powerful these things are - set Nav e-mail web browser etc. Once those get apps that will be the biggest market for selling them

Nokia are not in much danger of vanishing at the moment

No, you're missing half the picture. Keep in mind what I and this guy said:

Why would people flock to samsung - they don't have an iphone (or good press) either

Symbian^4 has been hyped up a lot, but after reading the roadmaps I'm not so convinced of it. Symbian^3, if it lives up to promises, will get 95% there.

Doing badly? Hmm. QoQ in general and smartphones they increased their marketshare. Ditto for profits.

Samsung doesn't have the iPhone's press, but Nokia is the one getting all the negative press. If Nokia becomes uncool, Samsung is the best neutral alternative for cheap phones.

You may think it's unfair, but since Nokia is the biggest, everyone is expecting better of them. If they fail while everyone is looking at them...

I think most people don't think that much about phones

A lot more choose on price and features - and nokia is doing fine in that battle ground

Symbian^4 is the first to have the whizzbang HW accelerated animated UI and a new application suite. Symbian^3 provides a lot of important under the hood stuff, but UI wise I think it's just patchwork for the same old S60 UI. And if there isn't much new the users can _see_ I don't think specs alone will be able to get enough attention. Symbian^3 might introduce some UI concepts/flow that'll be in Symbian^4 though. That's what I think Maemo 5 is also doing with regard to MeeGo(Harmattan).

Smartphones did well, but the average selling price wasn't all that great, 155 e. I'd be worried if this pushing smartphones to lower price points strategy didn't increase volumes. It also just occurred to me that in the earnings call they didn't announce Nseries and Eseries volumes separately from the lower end smartphones like they have before. Not sure if this means anything though.

Agree fully.


Android is exploding in the most important markets (EU + advanced Asia). Huawei, ZTE, Samsung et al will soon start pumping lower mid-range/low-end Android phones into developing markets.

It has taken few years for Android to mature, but it has now finally merged as great platform and ecosystem. Nokia can't simply rely on brand anymore. S^3 can't come fast enough. Android has the ability to take the position that Nokia currently holds.