What do you mean Nokia's failure to pursue 1x?
They have already released one 1xRTT model for the Americas. Two others are waiting in the wings, and both have FCC approval, and assuming success with both new data enabled models, plenty more models to release beyond that.
But with no color screens, no GPSone, and no BREW. And only one, low-end Java model. That can't compare well with what their largest CDMA customer, Verizon, will have on its shelves within a few months, or with what Sprint is getting onto its shelves as we speak. Can anyone credibly argue that the 6385 compares well with the Samsung A500? Or that the 3585 does so with the Sanyo 4900?
I really don't think I can be accused of being among those who have espoused the "Nokia's doomed if they don't throw everything into IS/95 and pray three times in the direction of San Diego" line, but remember: It's now been over two years since that WSJ article came out on the Nokia/Telson deal, quoting Olilla as expressing regret about how his company's overlooked IS/95 thus far, and how that was set to change immediately. In that article, Olilla also stated that Nokia was intent on attaining 30% of the IS/95 handset market within 18 months.
IIRC, Nokia did comment recently that, starting next year, releases of new GSM models would be accompanied by releases of similar IS/95 models. If they even came close to doing that, then 30% really isn't out of the question for the intermediate-term. But the way things presently stand, maintaining half as high a market share will be an arduous task, at least unless the low-end Latin American market starts taking off - and even in that field, the release of MSM6000-based handsets could wind up presenting some difficulties.
Eric |
