Last week, Samsung officially ovetook Nokia as the world's leading handset manufacturer. Though this was foreseen many months back, it is still hard to believe that the company that was an undisputed market leader across the mobile phone space just a few years ago has slipped so badly. The very economy of Finland, Nokia's birthplace, is at risk due to this fall from grace
It is easy to attribute Nokia's downfall to the quality of the competition (Samsung's Galaxy series of Android phones and tablets have won over Nokia users) or argue that their rivals moved the goalposts (Apple's iPhone revolutionized the smarphone business and knocked the wind from Nokia's sails, pun intended). But the fact is that Nokia had enough resources available, both in terms of technology and finances, to counter the iPhone/Android onslaught and hold on to their market leadership position. It was sheer lack of focus on their part, and the inability to convert brilliant ideas into best-selling products, that cost Nokia their crown. Here's a look at some of the occasions when Nokia missed the bus, at least as far as mobile Operating Systems are concerned:
1. Maemo = The OS based on Debian GNU/Linux, introduced in 2005, won praise from geeks but was never developed further
2. Meego = The partnership with Intel on this Linux-based OS, which was cancelled in 2011 in favour of Tizen, was a non-starter
3. Symbian = Even as Nokia's flagship OS showed signs of changing with the times (Belle), it was replaced by Windows Phone
Other than the Windows Phone 8, which is anyway not expected to be a game-changer, Nokia is now said to be betting on a successor to Meego called the Meltemi. This OS will potentially replace both the Symbian smartphone OS and the S40 feature phone OS. Meltemi is the Greek name for a summer wind that blows across the Aegean Sea. Will this be another OS mistake by Nokia, or will the Meltemi bring winds of change that will sweep away rivals like iOS and Android from the mobile phone market? Only time will tell
Uncertainty is dangerous...Nokia is a fine example. Though Nokia N8 is indeed a flagship device and Belle makes it even wow, it would have been great if it were on the Windows platform. In my opinion Nokia should just continue with the Windows OS because it can then only concentrate on hardware, looks and feel (something it should to catch up) and leave the intricacies of OS technicalities to Microsoft (something they're good at given Windows CE was the best OS for PDA's). Together its a win-win for both. If Nokia and Microsoft can continue with this partnership they will prove to be a tough contender in the smartphone segment with each gaining a considerable market share.
ReplyDeleteTheres an article i had written on this:
DeleteNokia's comeback punch.
http://justamin.blogspot.in/2011/10/nokia-comeback-punch.html
I do personally like windows phone over any other phones because of high security features somehow windows phone stopped delivering some features..which I prefer to have like meeting updates/skydrive data storage...so I have no options left to choose between iOS or android!!
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