Nokia will adopt Windows Mobile as its main smartphone platform in a wide-ranging agreement with Microsoft. Today two companies announced plans for a broad strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem. Nokia will adopt Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader. Nokia and Microsoft will closely collaborate on development, joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
What Microsoft has on mobile sector now is Windows Phone 7. It is the successor to Windows Mobile platform. Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7 on February 15, 2010, at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona. Windows Phone 7 is a new platform, and older Windows Mobile applications do not run on it. Windows Phone 7 features a version of Internet Explorer Mobile with a rendering engine that is “halfway between IE7 and IE8“. Silverlight (.NET code with XAM) is the application development platform for Windows Phone 7, but also Microsoft XNA is supported. Development tools are Visual Studio ja Expression Blend. Windows Phone 7 so far hasn’t been a major hit with the application-development community.
I would have liked to see something released on Meego instead of this, but I must admit that tt was somewhat expected that this could happen when you you get a new CEO from Microsoft. Now it seems that the stock price has fallen considerably this day: European stock markets turned lower Friday, with mobile-phone giant Nokia Corp. shedding nearly 10% after it agreed to a partnership with Microsoft. Let’s see what happens in the near future and how Microsoft stock reacts to this.
It takes quite a bit of time until the first phones using this new OS will come to market and how markets react to this. Vic Gundotra from Google already commented “Two turkeys do not make an Eagle” before the announcement. I think this was a better deal for Microsoft than for Nokia. Let’s see how well those turkeys are baked on the next Thanksgiving Day.
The new Nokia strategy: MeeGo will open-source mobile operating system project for future devices and Nokia’s Symbian will continue working on behalf of the platform. Symbian and MeeGo not dead, still shipping this year says another source.
But what will be the future of Qt? Just few months ago Nokia announced focus on Qt framework and support for HTML5. Qt applications do not work on Windows Phone and press release does not mention anything on Qt applications on Windows phones.
Letter to Developers about Today’s News tells that Qt will continue to be the development framework for Symbian and Nokia will use Symbian for further devices, and also on first MeeGo-related open source device (planned to ship later this year). There seems to be no Qt for Windows Phone development: In other words, Qt will not be adapted for Windows Phone 7 APIs. Microsoft would provide tools for application developers for Nokia Windows Phones. Developers already think this is a Microsoft sabotage on developers.
Was this Microsoft deal a good move or not is hard to say yet. I fear the worst. Some time ago Nokia’s outgoing head of smartphones Anssi Vanjoki Using Android like ‘peeing in your pants for warmth in winter’: Temporary relief is followed by an even worse predicament. Would using Windows Phone be like getting something else on your pants for temporary warmth?
This is a very dark day for Finnish software industry: Nokia to cut thousands of jobs in Finland. Pretty many developers in Finland will be pretty pissed off on all this…
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Tomi Engdahl says:
“Nokia looked like they launched a camera today, not a smartphone”
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2012/09/05/1147421/nokia-looked-like-they-launched-a-camera-today-not-a-smartphone/
Running into the much hyped event, PR was certainly built up to expect a significant breakthrough in product from Nokia today.
it was clear Nokia’s new products would have to raise the bar ABOVE the iPhone to gain traction. Problem for Nokia is – it doesn’t.
Looking at the presentation from Nokia, there is much focus on the use of maps, and taking photos. Yes, we have been here before and this feels very similar to Nokia presentations over many years. There is a lack of innovation here, the presentations have been beset with problems (audio video cut out, live streaming crashed), and there is simply NOTHING here to make an Android or iPhone user switch.
Quite frankly Nokia looked like they launched a camera today, not a smartphone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
-13%: Nokia shares surge on the stock exchange Lumian sales figures became public knowledge in
The main reason for Nokia’s decline is the fact that the company revealed that it had sold to date only 7 million Lumia phones (pretty bad at the opening)
In practice, this can be interpreted in such a way that the July-August Lumia sales have come to a halt as the wall.
the company is apparently only sold 400 000 phones in the current quarter
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/13++nokian+osake+syoksyssa+porssissa+lumian+myyntilukujen+tultua+julki/a835686?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-06092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://twitter.com/tomiahonen
Tomi comment 7M – why is Lumia cumulative sales of 7M ‘disasterous’ now? Because it was 6.6M at June 30 !!! So only 400K in past 2 months?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia’s Visionary Wants to Out-Design Apple
http://www.wired.com/business/2012/09/nokias-visionary-wants-to-out-design-apple/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Published September 5, 2012 | By Nokia – Press Release
New Nokia Lumia Range Delivers Latest PureView Camera Innovation, New Navigation Experiences and Wireless Charging on Windows Phone 8
http://press.nokia.com/2012/09/05/new-nokia-lumia-range-delivers-latest-pureview-camera-innovation-new-navigation-experiences-and-wireless-charging-on-windows-phone-8/
Nokia Lumia 920 Captures Best Pictures and Video Ever Seen on a Smartphone
Nokia today announced the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 range.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.
The Nokia Lumia 820 is a stylish, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package.
Powered by Windows Phone 8
Both phones will be available in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and are expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia: memory card slot would have “defiled” our phone
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/376750/nokia-memory-card-slot-would-have-defiled-our-phone
Nokia didn’t include a memory card slot in its new flagship handset because it would have “defiled” the phone, according to a senior company executive.
The Nokia Lumia 920 comes with 32GB of storage, but omits the memory card slot found on its cheaper sibling, the Lumia 820.
When pushed on why Nokia didn’t include a memory card slot, the company’s executive vice president, Kevin Shields, told PC Pro it would have harmed the clean design.
The Lumia 920, on the other hand, has only two ports: a micro-USB charging port and the headphone socket.
“The micro-USB port is an RF [radio frequency] nightmare,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Nokia Lumia mobes fail to inspire investors
Shares drop after new Windows 8 phones launch
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/06/nokia_shares_slump_new_lumias/
Nokia’s shares dropped to $2.38 on the New York stock exchange yesterday, indicating that some shareholding folks don’t think the new Lumias will take back any major market share from competitors like Apple and Samsung.
Tomi Engdahl says:
During Nokia’s press event for the launch of its flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone — the Lumia 920 — the Finnish company made available some promotional materials wherein there was a video showcasing PureView’s main feature: optical image stabilization (OIS) but, it turns out these ads were faked following which Nokia has issued an official apology.
In its apology through a blog post Nokia confirms that the video ‘was not shot with a Lumia 920.’
Source: http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/09/06/1228244/nokia-apologizes-for-misleading-lumia-920-ad
Tomi Engdahl says:
Where oh where is Windows Phone 8?
The hardware appears to be ready. What’s going on with the software?
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/09/where-oh-where-is-windows-phone-8/
Two companies have now announced their Windows Phone 8 hardware. Samsung was first out of the blocks, showing off its ATIV S at IFA last month. With much fanfare, Nokia revealed its first pair of Windows Phone 8 handsets, the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920.
Nokia didn’t announce any availability information
But what was a little surprising is that there were no handsets for the press to play with. There were some demonstration units carefully attended by PR personnel, and while we were able to get kind of close to them, the general rule was “you can look but you can’t touch.”
The problem Nokia has appears to be not so much its hardware; it’s the software. Windows Phone 8 isn’t done yet. Not only is Windows Phone 8 not done, it’s not even public yet.
Next week, the company will release a beta SDK… to a few people
A full SDK will come, but not until the company properly unveils the operating system—which is currently rumored to happen on October 29th. Presuming Windows Phone 8 devices ship this year—and Microsoft is certainly talking as if they will—that leaves developers little time to update their applications and get ready for the new platform.
Needless to say, developers are unhappy.
And getting that SDK is important, given just how disruptive it’s going to be. The development model on Windows Phone 7 was pretty straightforward
Windows Phone 8 is more complicated. Although it will continue to run Windows Phone 7 applications as is (whether XAML, XNA, or both), any applications that use new, Windows Phone 8-specific features, will have to fit a new development model. 3D programming will have to be C++, using Direct3D directly. XAML programs will continue to use C#. Mixing 3D with XAML will be possible, but will require a mix of C# for the XAML parts and C++ for the 3D parts. Certain Windows 8 APIs will also be available to new programs, with a mix of both C++-accessible Win32 APIs, and C++ and C#-accessible WinRT APIs.
This all paints a troubling picture for Windows Phone 8. Microsoft’s position in the smartphone market is tenuous, Nokia’s is downright perilous, and a strong Windows Phone 8 release is the bare minimum needed to have a chance of turning that around.
As for what’s making it take so long, it’s hard to be certain
Whatever the cause of the delays—whether they’re because Microsoft has bitten off more than it can chew with the kernel transition, or due to some other reason—the situation is now growing critical.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Petteri Järvinen-fiction writer, described Nokia’s trick on his blog pr-disaster and found that none of the text “simulated images” to save it.
Has Nokia claimed what images taken with DSLR camera were taken with Lumia 920?
- It is not claimed, we produce, as the video which rotates so there was to demonstrate the image stabilization feature. In the final section of the still images, it was found that it had not been told that it only demonstrates the image stabilization feature, Communications Manager Tom Kuuppelonmäki Nokia says.
Guide you in the marketing mislead the consumer?
- We are sorry to hear that. It should have been a disclaimer.
Does this now end the trust in Nokia?
- I hope that does not go. Allow the product to speak for themselves, when they obtained the shops.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012090716050377_du.shtml
Nokia’s mega-gaffe
I would not have thought Nokia’s screw up in this way – and yet Pureviewin with. Now is a great technology name dragged through the mud really, just like yesterday I wrote a bit of exaggeration. There’s no need to dramatize.
It is advertising images with Nokia camera citing exceptional image quality. Web crowd quickly realized that showed the optical video stabilizer were shot with professional camera and not with Lumia 920.
Shortly after the discovery that the still image was something odd
Nokia’s images are not advertising images, but the product demos, which are intended to illustrate the product key features. Forgery of such images is a hoax.
Fortunately, these images could not be present in television commercials. Otherwise Nokia would threaten public relations disaster, in addition to one million compensation.
Nokia had a better camera release key product for the promise of opportunity. When it counterfeited, who no longer believes in any other Nokia promises?
One more photogenic look at the issue. If the prototype stage the camera phone faked with SLR larger opening or a lower noise illustrate, it could even go some way to explain through. But when the demo image illuminated by a number of soft light (and the LED-level) images generated by a camera phone, not even in theory, be able to produce. The latest scam then the limit is exceeded with flying colors, and even text “simulated picture” would have saved it.
Source: http://pjarvinen.blogspot.fi/2012/09/nokian-megamoka.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia to start a new Lumia 920 phone sales in Europe in November, Reuters sources with reference to the operator.
Nordic operator’s representative told Reuters that starts 920-phone sales in mid-November.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012090716051509_du.shtml
Lumiagate « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog says:
[...] has been problems for customers to trust Nokia earlier, and this does not help the people to trust what Nokia [...]
Tomi Engdahl says:
Comments from Talouselämä magazine article
“Ihmiset eivät tunnista Lumiaa älypuhelimeksi”
http://www.talouselama.fi/nokialandia/ihmiset+eivat+tunnista+lumiaa+alypuhelimeksi/a2142547
“People do not recognize Lumia as a smartphone”
Nokia makes a lot of things right, but the company has a lot to do in order to get consumers to change their minds on Lumia phones, says Asymco technology blog creator Horace Dediu.
Horace Dediu: “It has been a problem since the beginning: Windows Phone was not disruptive., I just do not see it.”
“Lumia does not try to do something completely new, so that it would attract people who do not use smart phones or who are interested in a particular new feature.”
Dediu: “The fundamental problem is Lumian user experience., Most people do not recognize the smartphone. They are used to seeing icons on the home screen on iPhone and Android. ”
“Nokia’s problem is that Microsoft has distinguished itself in a way that is in fact a problem. People do not recognize that Lumia is in the same class of other competing devices.”
TE: Microsoft and Nokia have said that when Windows 8 starts to become more computers, then Windows Phone’s user interface will be familiar and desirable. Does this change the position of Nokia’s favor?
Dediu: “Nokia and Microsoft would like to believe in this logic. Problem is that Windows 8 may not take affect very quickly”
“I’m not convinced that Windows 8 is a home run Microsoft., It sells a lot, but it may be the new Vista.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
News agency Direkt collected by the forecasts. It is expected that Nokia sells next year around 25 million Lumia phones.
Deutsche Bank predicts Nokia to sell four million Lumia devices in October-December. Credit Suisse expects that total sales for year 2012 would be 12.5 million Lumia phones.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/tallaista+lumiamyyntia+nokialta+odotetaan/a836070?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-10092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Check my Lumiagate posting on issues with new Windows8 Lumia phone launch
http://www.epanorama.net/blog/2012/09/07/lumiagate/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Exclusive feedback from Nokia World 2012
http://wmpoweruser.com/exclusive-feedback-from-nokia-world-2012/
Our source tells us that Nokia employees are extremely proud of the Nokia Lumia 920, despite feedback from some partners that the device is too thick and heavy. They were also all-in with Windows Phone, but not that happy with Microsoft, which they felt lacked the sense of urgency which Nokia exhibited.
They were also disappointed that Microsoft has not been marketing Windows Phone as aggressively as they could, but Microsoft has promised a marketing campaign in the order of hundreds of millions around Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 over the next 6 months. This will be targeted at 4 major markets: US, Germany, UK and France.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Elop’s jacket was not a problem. The worst sin was very familiar to Nokia delay in the availability of: Telephone marketing surveillance of the timing and price were telling release. Similarly, the operating system incompleteness is a big minus.
“Lumia gate” can turn to Nokia’s profit. Camera features of interest now, more and more, and the device compares certainly the best Android phones and soon to be released iPhone 5.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/elopin+farkut+eivat+nokiaa+kaada/a837003?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-10092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia’s new Lumia WP8 phones launch danger of being wrong in the past marketing in the legs, while the company has had to request a second time I’m sorry “misleading marketing material.” Says the Financial Times.
According to several media brouhaha caused quite a fuss within Nokia
Source: http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/uusi+kohu+-+nokialta+jo+toinen+anteeksipyynto/201209256427?
Tomi says:
Nokia planning 4-inch ‘Flame’ low-end Windows Phone 8 device
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/7/3301529/nokia-flame-windows-phone-8-specs
mid- to low-end “Zeal” Windows Phone 8 device, due to ship in early 2013
A 4-inch “Flame” Windows Phone 8 device is said to include 512MB RAM, a 1.0GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel camera, and 4GB of storage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia will start selling its new smartphone, potentially its last chance to break into the most profitable part of the mobile phone market and secure its future, in November, sources at European telecoms operators said on Friday.
The Lumia 920 is expected to go on sale in the United States around the same time as in Europe.
“The problem is that Nokia has temporarily destroyed the market for its own phones. Nobody will buy the old Windows phone and until the new Lumia comes, the market is absolutely dead,” the executive said
“What we need to check still now is how Microsoft and Nokia will be able to develop the apps part,”
Part of the reason for the limited success of Windows phones so far is that they support only 100,000 or so apps, compared with about 500,000 or more for Android or iPhones.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/07/nokia-operators-idUSL6E8K7A3420120907
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 developers urged to ‘lead land grab’
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/11/windows_8_developer_land_grab/
Microsoft has urged developers to “lead the land grab” by developing Windows 8 apps ASAP.
Coates showed off an experimental tool from Microsoft Research called Touchdevelop that allowed the development of Windows Phone apps on a Windows phone. No typing was required: pokes on tiles in The Interface Formerly Known as Metro were the only input required to whip up an app.
Touchdevelop is not just a toy: Coates said the app was created as part of an effort to understand what kind of touch-only interfaces are effective. Developers can therefore use the tool to create apps and learn how to do so effectively when coding for Windows 8 and Windows Phone.
Create apps on your Windows Phone!
https://www.touchdevelop.com/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8? Nah: Win Phone 8 should give Apple the fear
Tiled phone, not PC, could put Redmond on top
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/11/windows_8_phone_can_win_by_not_losing/
Open … and Shut Windows Phone 8 might spell the beginning of a climb to relevance for a desktop vendor breaking out its latest PC operating system at almost the same time.
its biggest selling point is that it’s not iOS and not Android.
Microsoft will likely maintain its desktop market share, which still hovers at 92 per cent according to NetMarketshare data.
The bigger issue is how much of that market is being cannibalised by the growing tablet and smartphone markets.
And in the smartphone market, Microsoft actually stands a chance.
No, the real Windows Phone 8 advantage is actually that it’s not iOS or Android. A few months ago, this would have been its undoing. Apple dominates mobile profits while Android dominates market share.
Microsoft already has HTC and Samsung announcing WP8 phones, and Nokia, of course, is all in on WP8. Nokia is getting good reviews of its Windows-Phone-8-based Lumia 920, which isn’t enough to declare victory, but it is enough to suggest that Windows Phone 8 increasingly seems like the safe bet against Apple while Android’s legal status is muddied by Apple.
It’s an ugly way to win, but I suspect Microsoft won’t mind. Winning ugly is still winning.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTC plans to go big on Windows Phone 8. Says they’ve got better carrier support than Nokia
http://www.unwiredview.com/2012/09/07/htc-plans-to-go-big-on-windows-phone-8-says-theyve-got-better-carrier-support-than-nokia/
Unable to compete with Samsung and Apple on Android, HTC now looks to Windows Phone 8 to change its fortunes. According to HTC president of sales and marketing Jason Mackenzie – their plan is “to go big on Windows 8”.
Sounds interesting. But I still have some serious doubts Windows Phone can be a long-term solution to HTC’s issues.
Tomi Engdahl says:
As Nokia waits, Microsoft fights to keep Windows Phone 8 on schedule
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/11/3314650/windows-phone-8-schedule-delays-release
It’s all hands on deck at Microsoft right now: with a variety of high-visibility phone launches from partners scheduled before the end of the year, the company has not yet finished the Windows Phone 8 software, The Verge has learned.
We’re told by multiple sources that Microsoft had originally planned to launch Windows Phone 8 in early October, ahead of the launch of Windows 8. Microsoft is now targeting an October 29th software launch event with devices available throughout November, a slight delay to its original schedule.
Delays and bugs during testing have pushed back the launch, and associated devices, by weeks. We’re told that HTC in particular has had a tough time testing one of its Windows Phone 8 devices, a process that has impacted its ability to announce handsets as early as Samsung and Nokia.
Microsoft is expected to sign off on a final version as early as this week, but it has instructed Samsung, Nokia, and HTC not to show off the operating system.
Microsoft is tentatively aiming for a late October launch of Windows Phone 8
A Software Development Kit (SDK) preview is due on September 12th, and testing is underway at AT&T and Verizon for Samsung, HTC, and Nokia devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. Consumers Reluctant to Ditch iPhone, Android for Nokia Lumia 920
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409535,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121
Nokia’s new flagship Lumia 920 smartphone made a splash when it was unveiled last week, but most Americans don’t plan to ditch their iPhones and Android devices for the new Windows Phone 8-powered device, according to a new survey.
most of the respondents liked the look of the new Lumia 920, and were impressed by its specs. However, when asked whether they would consider switching their current cell phone contract to get the Lumia 920, 52 percent of respondents said no.
Nokia has not yet revealed pricing for the new device.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows Phone 8 SDK Preview program is now open
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2012/09/12/windows-phone-8-sdk-preview-program-is-now-open.aspx
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia is in war on two fronts:
Nokia’s mobile half collapses by the west (Apple, Google, MS).
Nokia’s network again collapsed by the east side (Huawei, ZTE).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows Phone 8 stands a chance as Apple, Android dither
The world has Xbox, PlayStation and Wii – it can handle 3 mobile OSes too
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/14/windows8_phone_ecosystems_analysis/
Analysis The markets have delivered their verdict on Nokia. Failure is priced in, and the company is deemed to be worth little more than its intellectual property portfolio.
That’s also the conventional wisdom of most technology pundits, who see no prospect for anyone outside the two “ecosystems” of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.
But in the past two weeks there’s been something of a change. Nokia has come out fighting. The company’s new Lumias, announced last week in New York, are unexpectedly competitive.
They’ll appeal strongly to anyone not inextricably tied to Apple and its infrastructure and content partners
The other factor is that Apple has opted to evolve gradually rather than create anything revolutionary with its smartphone.
the premise that there’s room for more than two ecosystems, and Windows Phone will be the third. In other words, it’s a contestable market.
The decisive factor in a developer’s mind is how many units on a particular platform shift.
If that market is measured in tens of millions of handsets – and today, Windows Phone isn’t – then the ecosystem will follow.
Much has been made of the HTML5 factor, allowing developers to write a generic web app that isn’t platform specific and runs in any capable browser.
Smartphones today are all pretty good – but they lack the kind of differentiation or wow! feature, that gets them talked about in pubs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tietoviikko writes:
Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system will be completed as planned.
WPCentral blog writes heard from two sources to trust that Windows Phone 8 is sent to production.
Windows Phone 8′s developer tools will be published based on the operating system pre-release version for the 12th September, but only for old developers.
WPCentral calculates that Windows Phone 8, will the device manufacturers through the distribution in November. At that time, the sale would also Nokia’s Lumia following models, 920 and 820
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/nokian+tuomionpaiva+koittaa+windows+phone+8+on+valmis/a839267?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-17092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
If Apple is what Nokia used to be, who is the new Apple?
http://davdin.tumblr.com/post/31739612642/if-apple-is-what-nokia-used-to-be-who-is-the-new
Petri Koskinen published an article last Friday on the print version of Kauppalehti, a Finnish business newspaper, titled something like “Apple is what Nokia used to be”.
Here is one passage from the article:
“When the attention shifts from product to logistics, it means that the iPhone is losing its sex-appeal and its position as the global trendsetter in smart phones”.
I guess the author sees in Apple what Nokia was before 2007.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Elop running out of time to turn Nokia around
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-nokia-strategy-idUKBRE88I0IQ20120919
Stephen Elop only has a few months to show he can turn Nokia around if he is to survive but the new smartphone is unlikely to woo customers back from Apple and Samsung.
Investors and analysts say the chief executive has until early 2013 to prove he made the right choice by partnering with Microsoft Windows or his future at the loss-making company will be called into question.
Nokia still sells almost a million phones a day but analysts are pessimistic on the outlook, predicting Lumia 920 will lose out to Apple’s iPhone 5 at the top end of the smartphone market in the 2012 holiday season.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTC introduced the new Windows 8 phones: Microsoft made a harsh move to Nokia
HTC introduced yesterday two WP8 phone, with the designation of Microsoft has been able to influence. What’s New in Windows Phone Windows Phone 8X and 8S.
Thus, HTC is the only manufacturer whose products have been designated a new mobile operating system version.
Microsoft figured prominently in HTC’s new releases with the launch ceremony, perhaps even more prominently than Nokia’s conference in New York in early September.
HTC has strong faith in Windows Phone.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012092016099360_du.shtml
Tomi Engdahl says:
Markets: There will be no Christmas for Nokia
Although Nokia was able to develop a lot of compliments received Windows Phone 8 phones, the markets believe that that they are not enough to save the CEO. “Elop have had time for two years. Now it’s over”
For example Seeking Alpha calculates (based interviews with number of analysts and investors) that Elop up to early next year to turn up company’s share price. If it does not work, Elop has to clean up the desk. News agency Reuters comes to same type of conclusion.
Source: http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/markkinat+ei+tule+joulua+nokialle/201209262301
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft is in a strange line in cooperation with Nokia.
Nokia’s supposed to be a main sponsor of Windows Phone 8 phones
Nokia was supposed to be the first manufacturer to announce the new WP8 phones. It turned out otherwise: Samsung was first
Yesterday, Microsoft came out visibly HTC’s side and presented itself Windows Phone 8 designated smartphones.
Nokia’s good news is that Windows Phone 8 seems to reach quickly a foothold in other manufacturers’ new products. It says that the new operating system of interest and has potential.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012092016099539_du.shtml
Tomi Engdahl says:
Investors Growing Tired of Nokia’s Elop, Eye Android Escape Route
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=27729
Magnus Rehle, a senior partner at telecom advising firm Greenwich Consulting, tells Reuters in an interview, “Elop has not been able to attract customers and that is what counts. You can say that he has not had enough time, but he has been there for two years. Time is up.”
Nordea analyst Sami Sarkamies comments, “He has been making some brave decisions and courage is something this company has lacked for a long time before Elop joined. His starting point was really weak and it’s hard to say someone else would have done a better job.”
Nokia’s failures are correlated to Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, but responsibility for causation doesn’t necessarily rest on the shoulders of Mr. Elop’s decision to go Windows Phone. Rather, it was arguably from making the decision to early (perhaps) and taking a bizarrely long time to get Windows Phone product to market.
Mr. Rehle believe Nokia should ditch Windows Phone and use Android. A switch to Android would certainly lower costs, but at a price.
But it’s unclear if ditching WinPhone would fix Nokia’s deep issues
Tomi Engdahl says:
Failure Version 2: Nokia Lumia Relaunch with Windows Phone 8 is Also a Total Dud (Updated)
http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2012/09/failure-version-2-nokia-lumia-relaunch-with-windows-phone-8-is-also-a-total-dud.html
Nokia was already failing catastrophically with the first generation Lumia and then Microsoft decided to not allow those first Lumia handsets to be upgraded to Windows Phone 8. So now its back to zero and starting once again from scratch.
A Nokia promotion video had been ‘faked’ without acknowledgement, ie they used other camera gear to create simulation of what Lumia 920 ‘Pureview’ videos could look like. Nokia apologized for this. And also, Nokia has said they miscommunicated the 7 milllion sales number (as I said, it seemed too small a number).
The Microsoft Way of trying to distort reality is to push misinformation, misleading comments and even downright lies to try to create hype. This is all part of the standard dirty tricks by Microsoft that Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop, an ex-Microsoft exec is eager to emulate
So we get two new Lumia smartphones by Nokia that run Windows Phone 8 (the four older Lumia models are now totally obsoleted, ‘Osborned’ in fact, as they are not compatible and cannot be upgraded from Windows Phone 7.5 to 8.0). Understand what it means. It does not mean that Nokia has now expanded from 4 to 6 Lumia models – where we might think Nokia grows sales say from 4 million last quarter to 6 million soon. No. Rather, Nokia has regressed from 4 to 2 marketable Lumia models.
I wrote my very deep analysis of why it is NOT POSSIBLE for Windows Phone to be selling particularly well in China right now. You can go read that analysis if you need the evidence.
I do have to say that Elop is destroying yet another Nokia brand – now the Pureview brand. The 808 Pureview camera, with the 41 mp camera – had its ‘party piece’ as the supreme trick
The camera sensor resolution and size is a critical element to the most obvious, visible and most-used part of the Pureview experience. Now by branding some low-light and other imaging gimmicks as supposedly ‘Pureview’ Elop is ruining the Pureview branding. But this is also par for the course, Elop has no interest in preserving any Nokia properties for the future, he burns them all in his bonfire of platforms.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Open Letter to Nokia Shareholders
http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2012/08/open-letter-to-nokia-shareholders.html
Finnish version:
Avoin kirje Nokian osakkeenomistajille
http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2012/08/avoin-kirje-nokian-osakkeenomistajille-this-blog-article-in-finnish-english-version-coming-next.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Analysts: Nokia Lumian sluggish sales
09/24/2012 8:54 Nokia Lumia range, sales volumes have remained weak in the current quarter, estimate by UBS analysts.
UBS analysts said Nokia’s outlook for the coming quarter, October-December, is overshadowed by a “significant” the fact that the Taiwanese phone manufacturer HTC has introduced its own Windows Phone 8 phones 8X, and 8S.
Source: http://www.digitoday.fi/vimpaimet/2012/09/24/analyytikot-nokian-lumian-myynti-vaisua/201238411/66?rss=6
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia: There is no plan B – Lumia phones will be successful
Nokia’s smartphone unit in India responsible for Vipul Mehrotra commented:
- We are confident of the success of the new Lumia. And B-plan, there is not. But what I can tell at the moment, is that we are committed to Windows phones, Mehrotra said in an interview.
- Meego took a lot of resources and time. We could have used them, but with Microsoft Initiating was a better option.
Source: http://yle.fi/uutiset/nokia_b-suunnitelmaa_ei_ole_-_lumiat_menestyvat/6306654
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop today answered questions from the audience and the new Nokia phone models engadget.com organized a live question and answer session.
Nokia’s potential backup plans:
- Our strategy is based on the fact that this is an “ecosystem” war on Apple, Android and Windows Pohonen between. We focus on full Windows phones and at the same time we are trying to create something new.
Elop also believes that the future phone displays will grow in size as a result of strong competition.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012092516119388_du.shtml
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows Phone 8 OS video walkthrough via the finalized emulator and SDK
http://www.wpcentral.com/windows-phone-8-os-walkthrough-finalized-emulator-and-sdk
The SDK had surfaced on the internet a few days ago via WinUnleaked and has been floating around ever since.
After spending a few hours configuring our PC for the SDK (you need Windows 8 Pro RTM 64-bit, seriously), we fired up Windows Phone 8 OS…
The video above is just a quick tour of the things we noticed immediately though we dare say it does not cover everything.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bloomberg: Nokia wasting more than 230 million euros a month
Lumia phones sales will accelerate, but Nokia does not take a cash problem. Bloomberg News reported that Nokia’s cash boils down to more than 300 million dollars, or more than EUR 230 million per month.
According to analysts, Nokia may be facing something entirely new since 1989. The company may not pay a dividend. According to Bloomberg, this may upset investors looking for quick returns for their money.
Bloomberg analysts’ estimates that Nokia currently has cash of EUR 4.2 billion.
Nokia has debt to 5.2 billion euros (rating junk category).
According to Bloomberg, Nokia’s difficulties are because of failure in the smartphone market: Nokia’s market share in smartphones is about 6.6 percent
Analysts now expect that Nokia’s transition phase will last up to three years from now (if there is enough cash to do it).
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/talous/bloomberg_nokia_haaskaa_yli_230_miljoonaa_euroa_kuukaudessa
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia, HTC may engage in patent lawsuits over WP8 smartphones, say sources
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20120926PD220.html
Nokia is reportedly looking to initiate a patent war as the Finnish handset vendor has voiced a complaint, suspecting that HTC has copied the outer design of Nokia’s Lumia 820 for its Windows Phone 8X, the sources noted.
Even if there is a similarity between the two models, chances are slim for Nokia to accuse HTC for infringement given that Nokia was only a half month ahead of HTC in the announcement of WP8 smartphones, while it takes at least a half year to develop a new model, argued the sources.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia reveals Lumia 820 and 920 pricing and release date
Coming to Europe in November for £400 and £500, respectively
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2208700/nokia-reveals-lumia-820-and-920-pricing-and-release-date
The company announced today that the two Windows Phone 8 handsets will be available in Germany from November, costing €499 and €629, respectively.
O2 and Vodafone mobile networks in Germany will be offering the two handsets
Tomi Engdahl says:
4 ways Windows Phone could win
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/09/27/windows-phone/?iid=SF_F_River
Will Microsoft’s attempt to catch up to Apple and Google succeed? Not likely. If it wants to have any hope of being a strong third, here is what it must do.
Here are four key ways Microsoft could play its position:
Large contracts with Fortune 1000 companies
Foster an enterprise apps economy
Become master retailers
Change CEOs and get the stock moving
Tomi Engdahl says:
Swiss bank Credit Suisse predicts that Nokia will have to make even billion of savings in Devices & Services-phone unit in before it becomes profitable.
Credit Suisse estimates Nokia’s mobile phone unit to do next year, about 750 million operating loss as a result of the transition of Windows 8 operating system.
Credit Suisse considered quite likely that Nokia will have to be divided parts. The Bank anticipates Apple, Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE’s to be interested in buying Nokia parts.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/raju+nokiaennustus+uusi+saastokuuri+ja+firma+pilkotaan+osiin/a843636?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-01102012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia’s biggest challenge is to get consumers to get used to the new Windows Phone 8 operating system. Apple’s strength is a familiar, easy-to-use interface.
In addition to Nokia also Samsung and HTC are pushing new Windows Phone models.
Source: http://www.iltalehti.fi/digi/2012100116144229_du.shtml
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows makes progress in Europe
http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Windows-makes-progress-in-Europe
The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech shows that Windows is challenging RIM for third place in Europe, as low-end devices such as the Nokia 610 drive sales in key markets such as Italy and France.
“Windows is making steady progress in the big European economies and is now challenging BlackBerry for third spot in the European OS league. With the momentum Windows 8 will bring towards the end of 2012, it seems highly likely that it will achieve this before the end of the year.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
After joining the European smartphone market late Sony is making up for lost time with its Xperia series, outselling both BlackBerry and Nokia as a result of strong performances in Spain, Germany and France.
Source: http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Windows-makes-progress-in-Europe
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia and Oracle have joined forces on mapping, with details of the deal to be announced at the Oracle OpenWorld conference. To differentiate its smartphones from the competition, Nokia is betting big on location as well as imaging technology.
Source: http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/10/02/0223227/nokia-bets-big-on-mapping