Because why anyone have to carry more than one if you cross market segments.

Personally, I want a good user experience, lots of business apps and productivity apps, a few games, and great media capabilities. Oh, and i need a piece of hardware powerful enough to handle all of that. Should hardware vendor X build a feature phone that meets my needs or should i be able to find a piece of hardware from Vendor X with an good OS that I can then either customize myself, or have it preconfigured to meet my needs?

Honestly, what makes more sense?

Because a lot of people for some reason believe what they do and need is what everybody else does and needs - thus defining the one market segment as themselves

Well it's arguable whether the user actually gains any benefit from it, or whether it simply serves Apple's business interests.

There is no reason why you couldn't offer the same "controlled" environment for officially sanctioned applications, without locking down the device to third party alternatives.

I couldn't agree more! In fact I believe that this is a business opportunity for people today. I would love to see competition in app stores, each could offer a different value proposition!

I think this is quite a smart subject:
I am one of them who will finally retire my trusty N95 (1st gen). and I definitely belong to a MINORITY user group as I use more or less all functions and services the N95 can offer, VoIP , Skype, Router ( Joikuspot) Bluetooth Headset /sync, 16gb SD, Video rec, Gmail, Chat.....

I have seen Grannies with an N95 (and up) phone most likely only using them to call with. the N900 will be a bit to large in size ( even for me) and to expensive.
the iPhone still have this "bling" attraction making people to buy it even if they just will make calls / sms

N900 = mass market = NO
this is my personal Scandinavian Techie opinion.

Why not build a granny package,

* Magnifier to help them read,
* GPS Assist Emergency Response,
* Medical History (Personal Health Record)
* Medication Reminder
* Medical Device connectivity via bluetooth
* Large fonts
* Photos to identify people to call or recieve calls from.
* GPS location for wandering persons.
* I'm lost help me get home feature
* Puzzle games for mental acuity

The beauty of this package is that it is all software! - to me it seems like a killer niche play to me all living on the same platform that that keeps the techy happy.

I think the n900 is for almost everybody. The way the UI and how Nokia is pushing the app store and apps means most people could use it. For advanced users it still offers the Linux openness and the ability for hackery and magic to push the device past "smartphone" definition.

There are already several mobiles that are for sale that do this.

It says a lot for the community here if they cannot say (in a few words) what the definitive value for their halo product is. Nokia isn't at fault if their fans can't even answer.

Maybe I am naive. The device in its out of the box state will offer a value statement in itself, but the value the end user will derive from the device will be closely linked to what software we use and how they use it.

That is what the 'We've got an app for that' campaign is about. Define your own value proposition (on our platform).

Right?

I believe the N900 has a place in each of those markets. The current generation of people in developed countries grew up with browsing the web on desktop browsers, downloaded audio to listen to in media players that supported plug ins, and have utilized multitasking from the moment they used a Windows, Mac, or Linux PC. This target user would instantly recognize the N90 as a major upgrade over the iPhone, N97, HTC Hero, Palm Pre, and any other competitors.

The direction of focus should be on the desktop in your pocket first and foremost. And the supposed competition that claims the same experience should be exposed so users understand what the desktop experience really is, and diffferentiated from a "near desktop" experience in today's high end smartphones. In fact, I don't even like the smartphone moniker, and prefer geniusphone. ;P

On the other side, the emerging and third world markets, this is purely about flexibility, horsepower, and free apps. It should be pointed out that all of the application manager apps are free, and this will finally give homes in this market a full PC for the first time. Many in these markets prefer a high end smartphone to a PC because of its portability, but now they no longer have to choose. This is the REAL desktop web and computing experience in a pocketable format! Add in TV out and a bluetooth keyboard, and the experience is complete.

Our market is the netbook market on the high end and the premium smartphone market on the low end. It easily bests the competition in each space on various selling points, and should be easily moved in a 2-5 million units pace, even more with carrier cooperation and frequency compatibility.

Another factor is price, especially in the US. The iPhone is marketed well, but its biggest selling point is its initial price. At $200, it is priced well below most premium smartphones, and more near a midrange smartphone, obliterating the mass market on price point, while positioned as a premium device. This is akin to anyone able to buy a BMW by trading in your '98 Honda Civic. Its too attractive to pass up.