Nokia, you can do better!
This Morning I came across several good posts on symbian-related blogs. But the one that I liked most, was written by Andrew Leung of The Nokia Blog.
Those weeks, after the launch of new phones like Nokia N85, Nokia N79, N96, and waiting for the upcoming 5800 (and hopefully, a new Touchscreen Nseries), several bloggers agree that Nokia has gone some way too far with NSeries.
The problem is that they are keep making useless Nseries variations. Dozens of phones, all with the same functionality and with no technological improvements. At the same time, other mobile manufacturers (Apple, Samsung, Blackberry, T-Mobile Android) are implementing real innovation on their handsets, and Nokia is losing the head of the Mobile Market in terms of interest and innovation.
For example Apple's Iphone with a great display, and very fast interface. Samsung made a couple of 8Megapixels camera phones. Blackberry Bold is just fantastic, and the T-Mobile Android has a really flexible and new Os.
And Nokia?
(Nokia Aeon Prototype has been showed years ago, getting old even before production)
Why there are so many Nseries phones? To mention some of the "clone" Nseries devices, Nokia N81, N 81 8Gb, N95, N95 8Gb (latest real innovator), N82, N85, N96, N78, N79, 6220 Classic, 6110 Navigator, and so on. All with the (nearly) same technologies inside, with no real improvements in the last 2 years.
And, again: I think that Nokia phones need better build quality: I cannot accept to pay 600 Eur for a phone that has a low quality keypad and cover, that is full of scratches after a couple of months, or with dust inside the screen.
Again: Why the Xenon Flash has not been implemented in the latest phones? Why the Nokia 5800 only has a 3.2 Mp camera? Why Nokia has still not developed a Multi-touch screen, like Apple's one? and Why our smartphones are so slow in the Symbian Os environment? and why we are stuck in a 320x240 resolution even for 2,8" screens?
The New Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic seems to represent a little step for resolving some of the mentioned problems. But again, we have to wait it's release to point out what improvements have been done in the last months.
Well, do not misunderstand the meaning of my post. I still prefer Nokia among the other manufacturers, and I think that the quality of their hadset is still the best. But I think that selling too many phones just made them, uhm, "relaxing" too much.
Come on Nokia, it's time to show that you are still the innovation leader!
This is not only my toughts. In the article below, you will find the more complete critic on Nokia current strategy by Andrew Leung, and hopefully written in a better english! 
Click Here to read the full article (external link)
Oh Pizero, NOT YOU TOO! Come on!
Look at my answer on Andrew's post (it's the longest one, written by Rita El Khoury). Read it once. Read it twice. Maybe three times or more.
Then check this interview ( http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2008/09/nok... ) with one of Nokia's managers. Check the answer to the 2nd question where HE says the 3 reasons that made Nokia triumph over others in the past.
Also check this entire post: http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2008/10/inn...
After reading the 2 sides of the story, PLEASE tell me what YOU think, not what Andrew thinks, not what I think. And if your mind has changed, please UPDATE this post of yours.
well what i think is although they look like the same but they do carry slightly different tech inside; TV function on N96, theme change when changing different back cover. umm i would also think updates to FP3 means a whole new set of products so they have N85, N79 and N96. and besides they seems like to focus trying to make phones prettier (which i dont think they are pretty
) and more user friendly even it is s60.
)
I would like to have 320×640 on my n95 8GB too but nokia traded that for 1600 mil colors screen.. but i think running speed is improving on s60s. my fds SE phone got completely scratched just a month haha so the only way to prevent tht might as well get a crystal shell or take good care… (use it before u cut your fingernails
i really wonder how phones can evolve, as i really want buttons instead of full touchscreens, with GPS, camera and mp3 already implemented, what can we want more?
That is absolutely correct. There can be no objection. Latest differences? TV for N96? Big deal. The iphone and other large competitors are hardening the competition, and Nokia is lagging. And Andrew makes a good point: Nokia cannot keep releasing new phones with little technological improvement (no, that doesn't mean RAM, memory, and such) and expect to sell them comfortably at 600, 700, even 1000 Euros.
yes that's is the problem…
Rita, I read carefully all the material you are linking me, as well as your reply to Andrew.
However, even if I understand Nokia Strategy, that was not enough for me.
If we are talking about Corporation's goal, no doubt: Nokia has more experience than any other mobile phone producer, and I'm sure that they are going to dominate the market in the next years.
I feel that in those months, the market in filled with technological improvements, and Nokia is just waiting to see the market behaviour, and then they will implement only the most succesful technologies.
But the sense of my post has to be considered from customer's side. Without any doubt, having 12 Nseries devices on the market mean greater choice. But you should remember that we are bloggers, and we know every aspect of a complicated market.
I'm sure that normal users are in great pain if they want to buy a new Nokia handset. They have a great amount of phones with almost same technologies and price to choose from, and if they don't know every model, I'm sure that so much phones makes them a bit confused and maybe will just not buy the best and latest technologies, because of their low information.
Regarding the introduction of newer technologies, like touchscreen, Oled displays and Xenon flash, Nokia is just waiting too much to implement them all in a newer generation device. This is because, as they are carrying a large amount of phones in the market, to make one “killer device” would mean having all other phones sales drop, or to lower the price of all other older Nseries.
Imagine this: A new device, with support for dvb-h, better processor, great build quality. 8Mp Camera with Xenon, Oled Touchscreen, large storage. This would be a faboulous device, and would sell a lot even at high prices. Who would buy the older Nseries?
So, I think, as Nokia has a great share of market, and as their success is brought by the moltitude of devices they make, they have no interest of making really innovative devices. They instead prefer to introduce a large amount of new phones, with only one new technology implementation per model, so that older models can still stay alive, because they all bring a great “unique” feature.
To sum up, this can be a winning strategy for them, not for customers. As always, a Corporation acts in order to get the best profits.
Customers and innovation are considered less important. And that's exactly what i'm complaining to them.
You'r right. I dont thing in that way, till now.
A few links for you Pi, that are a great proof of my point of view:
http://conversations.nokia.com/home/2008/10/nic...
and
http://conversations.nokia.com/home/2008/10/ive...
i agree with most of the points raised in the article. my wife has a 'jesus phone' (iPhone) whereas i'm still using an N95 and as much as i hate to say it, the iPhone is uber slick. it's interface is ridiculously polished, the GUI is totally user friendly and it's fast – rarely any lag. add to that it can pick up my wi-fi in parts of the house that the N95 simply gives up combined with its GPS that locks on almost straightaway.
if the situation arose where apple released a new iphone with a decent camera, i'd be first in line to buy one. don't get me wrong… i love nokia however am starting to get a little fed up with the reduced and/or lack of integration with Macs. i'm also over the fact that so many apps, Brightkite for an example, have released iPhone versions however seem to have forgotten all us Symbian users.
i'll probably cop some flack for this post but unless nokia pulls their proverbial finger out, it may be time for me to move on.
one more point to add…
i know its not nokia's fault per se (like the third party app issue) however my Telco here in Australia is Optus. On my N95, I pay approx $15 per month for 200MB of mobile broadband to use on my phone – this is on top of my monthly contract fee. My wife who is also with Optus, gets 700MB free as part of her contract. I find this ludicrous – its the same internet but iPhone users are getting massive incentives. Would it be legal for a petrol station owner to charge Honda drivers one price for petrol and another price for BMW drivers? I don;t think so but somehow the Telcos can do the equivalent.