I'm well aware of that chart, CF. Quick question: what's the dividend comparison?

Anyway, Mil made a remark about Nokia's stockholders, and I simply rebutting that particular point.

I have no idea about stocks and finances. I was just bored

This discussion will become quite interesting once 3rd party developers start cranking out applications for the iPhone. Its likely we'll see VOIP, Multi-Protocol IM clients, Terminal Applications, all the things that make the "open" Internet Tablet system so appealing.

The problem I see in the coming year or two is this:

If the developers flock to the iPhone/iTouch OSX platform, and all the polished 3rd party applications are exclusive to it... where does that leave the Internet Tablets?

Now, I am aware this outcome depends solely on Apple's implementation of the SDK and approval process. But its likely we'll see all the goodies that make the IT unique show up on the iPlatform™ (zing!).

Are you talking step 3, 4 or 5?

Ahh…,

Bloody Apple…, I’ve been a “Apple” hater ever since I first using a “Apple II” but now with Apple killing off all the other makers of MP3 players ( iRiver :/ ) there is little competition left.

To top is all off, I just spent the last ~10 minutes playing with a itouch that some of are US staff brought over and I cound not completely hate it…., I just may have to fall on my sword and buy a icrap……

(p.s. I’m way to hungover to read all the post in this thread posted so far….)

All of the above?

Texrat, I have nothing but admiration for your unshakeable faith in Nokia!

Nokia will remain strong and almost certainly unaffected by Apple in the mobile phone space (although I think it's fair to say Apple have taught Nokia several lessons in design and usability, hence the emergence of the S60 touchscreen). However, the Nokia Internet Tablet faces an uncertain future because, unlike the mobile phone market where Nokia dominates, Nokia is now having to challenge for dominance from a very weak position, and that position only looks likely to become weaker in future as more competitors with more adventurous and appealing consumer focused designs appear on the market (x86 vs. ARM is yet another potential hurdle for Nokia in the long run).

The only options I see are a convergance of the internet tablets and mobile phones - can Maemo supplant Symbian as the premier smart phone platform?

With the right accessories, an OMAP3 based NIT could replace the laptop AND mobile phone of many users, and a desktop dock could provide full desktop connectivity (high resolution video out, audio, keyboard, mouse, network etc.) but when removed from the dock it's a fully portable communication device with all data stored on the internet (via Ovi services). The ultimate low cost computer. The only trouble is, Apple and Intel can do this too, and probably will sooner than Nokia.

Neither Apple nor Intel have Nokia's world-reknown logistics system and breadth of trade customers in the phone space.

Nokia can afford to subsidize the tablet's development and grow the line slowly and steadily. I also don't see the position as weak. If the company felt the same as you, the N810 wouldn't be on its way.

I quite agree that Nokia have the edge in the phone space via the operators and trade channels, but the devices we are discussing are not strictly phones - definately not in the case of the iPod Touch. We're (or at least I am) discussing what will become mainstream consumer devices, and Nokia does not have the direct consumer relationships required for the consumer market (NITs are nowhere to be seen in my highstreet electronic retailer which is replete with iPods) and my experience of dealing with Nokia UK to repair a NIT is not something I wish to repeat, and other owners around the world have faired even worse. Nokia may have world-renowned logistics but even you must admit it has failed on many occasions where NITs are concerned.

Apple may well find it easier to scale up to support their burgeoning phone business than Nokia find it to scale down to support the direct mass consumer market. As for Intel, they'll rely on their Taiwanese partners who already have multiple sales channels already in place in many countries (Asus etc.).

Quite, and of course we're only half way through the 5-step plan. Over the next 2 years it will be very interesting to see how Nokia execute on the remaining steps 4 & 5.

Texrat - looks like we might both be wrong! Microsoft FTW! (according to Uncle Fester)

I am sure microsoft is going nowhere... in asia and developing countries..... nokia trumps everyone. Staying in the us you guys know nothing about the dominance of nokia. Every second phone in asia is a nokia and people are so used to the interface and the ruggedness and relaibility they are not going to buy anything else.

Its only in the us it did not get a strong hold.....that is because of the nature of the stupid carriers.
And apple is nowhere near nokia in innovation. Mobile phones are where they are just because of nokia. In fact nokia came up with the idea of the wide screen touchscreen 7710 way back in 2004. It had pretty much everything the iphone had and more but it was bit sluggish. As it is nokia is known for its ruggedness, dependebility and call quality. I think it left the touch screen cause just because they were not as rugged as the regular phones and went with the non touch screen phones. That was a bad decision and now it has been awakened by apple. Now with the public announcement by nokia saying that they are going in full steam with apple... lets see if apple can hold on to nokia.