Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 12th Aug 2009 22:38 UTC
Two of the losers in the smartphone wars are cuddling up. Historic enemies Microsoft and Nokia today announced a wide ranging partnership covering mobile software, services, and eventually GUIs. Or as the execs put it today, as they exchanged dopey-eyed looks, the pair will "jointly design a range of new user experiences".
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RE: Nokia needs a proper direction desesperately
by KugelKurt on Thu 13th Aug 2009 02:10
in reply to "Nokia needs a proper direction desesperately"
Member since:2005-07-06
How to call this... Nokia syndrome? Sun syndrome? Motorola syndrome? Yahoo syndrome?
IBM syndrome. Cover all bases and be incredibly successful with it.
I really don't see the problem you are seeing. Nokia uses Qt to bridge all possible operating systems -- Linux, Symbian, maybe even Windows Mobile.
RE: Nokia needs a proper direction desesperately
by dagw on Thu 13th Aug 2009 11:05
in reply to "Nokia needs a proper direction desesperately"
Member since:2005-07-06
does Nokia have a clear strategy or is just a chaotic attack in many ways? Linux-based Maemo project for their N series,
With the lines between high end phones and small computers bluring they need a powerful operating system. Linux seems like a reasonable way to get there quickly and Maemo is a decent enough platform.
making Symbian more open,
Linux and Maemo is too heavy for smaller and cheaper phones. Symbian will no doubt be around for a long time especially in more low end non-smart phones which make up most of the cell phone business. Having an well tested open platform that you control is very nice indeed.
buying Trolltech,
According to reports from a bit before they bought Trolltech, Nokia was frustrated with the GTK project not being willing to go in the direction they wanted and needed it to go in. Having your own powerful cross platform toolkit that you control is important for controlling your future. Being able to use the same toolkit for writing apps across Nokia's entire range of phones and devices and all desktop OS's has great potential and could be a 'killer app' for Nokia.
deal with Intel for oFono project that is Linux-based too...
Hey nothing wrong with having a fall back plan if your first idea doesn't pan out. Why put all your eggs in one basket? Especially if you can get it relatively cheap with others picking up much of the R&D costs.
and now a deal with Microsoft.
Like it or not, interoperability with MS software and servers is necessary for many business users and saying that your phone comes with official MS support can potentially generate many business sales.
What will be next, Android based phones?
$20 says they already have Android running on their latest smart phones in the lab. Eggs and baskets and all that, especially if someone else is willing to pay for the extra basket.
The thing to remember is that Nokia is a huge company. Not only do they have almost 40% of the cell phone market, they are big players across the entire telecom spectrum. By contrast iphone, android and palm make up maybe 1.5% of the cellphone market combined. Nokia doesn't have the luxury of focusing all their energy on simply one product. I don't see this recent spate of deal as chaotic or unfocused, but more as strategic effort to simulatniously push forward their large and divers product portfolio.
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Member since:
2006-01-26
Seriously, does Nokia have a clear strategy or is just a chaotic attack in many ways? Linux-based Maemo project for their N series, making Symbian more open, buying Trolltech, deal with Intel for oFono project that is Linux-based too... and now a deal with Microsoft. What will be next, Android based phones?
They are losing fuel even if they did similar things before others. Apple makes iPhone and become the cool thing, Google makes Android and starts eating the market and hardware makers that never did mobile phones start making them, Palm makes Palm Pre and get alive again...
Nokia, what is going to happen mith you. You were a disruptive company, making fresh and styled products that others immitated... now Nokia tries to follow the market in a pathetic way...
How to call this... Nokia syndrome? Sun syndrome? Motorola syndrome? Yahoo syndrome?