News & Analysis
Comment
Sanjib.Acharya
I am a Nokia user and I like the Windows phone. The reasons behind liking Nokia ...
yalanand
I too feel its always better to opt for multiple OS rather than just stick to ...
Nokia: No "Plan B" should Windows Phone fail
Sylvie Barak
2/8/2012 3:22 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO-- Nokia is placing all of its bets on a Windows Phone strategy with no “Plan B,” according to the firm’s European manager, ahead of the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona.
Nokia will reportedly release a new Windows Phone device at the show, pegged to be a high-end smartphone sporting an “unusual software feature,” according to sources at a Nokia partner, as reported by Forbes.
Meanwhile, Victor Saejis, the Finnish phone maker’s European Manager has told Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri that his company has no contingency in the event its Windows Phone strategy falls flat, noting, "Plan B is that Plan A is to succeed."
With fierce competition from Android and iOS, Nokia is raising the stakes with Windows Phone and not hedging its bets.
Despite its strong reputation for sturdy hardware, Nokia has long struggled with a series of software flops, including the ill-fated MeeGo OS and the steady decline of Symbian. "It's like starting all over again,” said Saejis.
The executive also admitted that succeeding to crack the U.S. market would be critical to the firm’s global strategy. “We must succeed in the U.S. if we are to succeed in the world," he declared.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Nokia announced it would be cutting down on its manufacturing operations in Europe and Mexico, moving device assembly work to Asia instead. The move will make 4000 employees redundant.
Nokia will reportedly release a new Windows Phone device at the show, pegged to be a high-end smartphone sporting an “unusual software feature,” according to sources at a Nokia partner, as reported by Forbes.
Meanwhile, Victor Saejis, the Finnish phone maker’s European Manager has told Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri that his company has no contingency in the event its Windows Phone strategy falls flat, noting, "Plan B is that Plan A is to succeed."
With fierce competition from Android and iOS, Nokia is raising the stakes with Windows Phone and not hedging its bets.Despite its strong reputation for sturdy hardware, Nokia has long struggled with a series of software flops, including the ill-fated MeeGo OS and the steady decline of Symbian. "It's like starting all over again,” said Saejis.
The executive also admitted that succeeding to crack the U.S. market would be critical to the firm’s global strategy. “We must succeed in the U.S. if we are to succeed in the world," he declared.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Nokia announced it would be cutting down on its manufacturing operations in Europe and Mexico, moving device assembly work to Asia instead. The move will make 4000 employees redundant.
|
|
|
|
|
Navigate to related information
selinz
2/8/2012 3:43 PM EST
Current users of Nokia phones will have a much better user experience with windows. They are already used to not having many apps. The people that I know that have Windows phones seem quite happy with it...
Sign in to Reply
SylvieBarak
2/8/2012 5:55 PM EST
I actually really like the experience of Windows Phone. I tested it out and used it as a primary device for 10 days and I was actually sad to give it back at the end of the trial. I think you're right that it's certainly a big step up for current Nokia users. If Nokia prices its efforts correctly and undercuts its biggest competitors (Samsung and Apple) with a really great new smartphone, then maybe they really don't need a plan b. But it all comes down to correct pricing, in my opinion.
Sign in to Reply
larryvand
2/10/2012 5:16 PM EST
Samsung has Windows Phone OS, Bada OS and Android OS smartphone. If Samsung can do it and do it successfully, why can't Nokia???
Sign in to Reply
chanj
2/8/2012 4:09 PM EST
Nokia Man-Machine Interface worked really well. Functions and features are properly categorized and put together. Nokia phones have been one of the most popular phones in both Asia and Europe. For whatever reason, it has never been taking off in U.S. market. The giving up of Symbian and MeeGo and the adaptation of Windows Mobile may give Nokia an advantage of jumping into Smartphone market as well as the US market. However, how does Nokia differentiate itself from the rest of the Windows phone maker?
Sign in to Reply
Bert22306
2/8/2012 4:52 PM EST
Here's a really easy Plan B: run to Intel and slap the Nokia label on their phone, if theirs fails.
Isn't Intel almost begging others to do this?
Sign in to Reply
SylvieBarak
2/8/2012 5:56 PM EST
There may still be some bad blood between Nokia and Intel over the failed MeeGo partnership. But that would certainly be a BIG win for Intel if they could get Atom based Nokia smartphones shipping. You're right!
Sign in to Reply
eewiz
2/8/2012 8:07 PM EST
Hows Intel going to help Nokia, if windows phone fails? Nokia would need a new better OS, not another hardware platform.
Sign in to Reply
elctrnx_lyf
2/8/2012 11:58 PM EST
Nokia ... go for android. Listen to the voice of the Android community. You will never regret or look back.
Sign in to Reply
chanj
2/9/2012 2:33 AM EST
I can hardly imagine the coalition of Microsoft and Nokia will fail. Nokia has been famous of beautiful industry design, excellent build of hardware and cost control. Both Microsoft and Nokia have been one of the early players in smartphone market. Nokia communicator was first launched in 1996. Microsoft launched Windows CE in 1996. I believe what important for Nokia to consider is not Plan B; it is how they can capture the mobile Internet market and how its product being differentiate from other smartphone in the good side.
Sign in to Reply
Martin.Siegel
2/9/2012 3:56 AM EST
Even if Nokia has a "Plan B", they would never publicly admit it because it would shed a negative light on their Windows Phone.
Sign in to Reply
hm
2/9/2012 4:34 AM EST
Apart from apps and other features, price may be very important factor. Nokia should provide very good price incentives for its hardware.
Sign in to Reply
woohoo
2/9/2012 9:46 AM EST
Why doesn't nokia do what everyone else (HTC/SEC etc) is doing. Just make everything (android, win7/8,linux so on) and let evolution decide the survival of the fittest.
Sign in to Reply
elctrnx_lyf
2/10/2012 12:24 AM EST
woohoo, I do agree with you. Why not multiple OS, why are they taking widows side leaving other competitive OS like android.
Sign in to Reply
yalanand
2/11/2012 12:01 AM EST
I too feel its always better to opt for multiple OS rather than just stick to Windows OS. I am not sure why Nokia is so hesitant to opt Android OS ? When everyone knows that Android is the most successful OS after iOS what is wrong in releasing Nokia+android mobile ?
Sign in to Reply
Sanjib.Acharya
2/11/2012 8:59 AM EST
I am a Nokia user and I like the Windows phone. The reasons behind liking Nokia are the same as many of my fellow readers have mentioned... robust design, user friendly interface...etc. But I have also failed to understand, why Nokia is so confident on "no plan B"? If they are not over-confident, does that mean they don't have an option?...or would it be too late to move to Android to protect self-esteem? OR, they are working on a “plan B” which they don’t want to disclose to win the game? I would like to see the last one :)
Sign in to Reply