This is one very unhappy fanboy <g>.....
symbianguru.typepad.com
Nokia Might As Well Pull Out Of The US Market
Disclaimer: This is an absolute rant, plain and simple.
Nokia, you might as well simply pull out of the US market entirely. Don't even bother sending crap to the FCC. I'm dead serious. This is getting ridiculous. First off, let it be known that I am a Nokia fanboy. If you've crossed me on Howardforums, you'll know this, and you know that I'm not afraid to admit it. I started with the 5190, moved to the 8260, then to the 7160, up to the 3360, on to the 6340i. Heading into GSM I had the 3595, 6620, 3300, 6170, 6230, N-gage QD, 6682, N80, N73, 6102, 6102i, and E62 (in no particular order). I've never owned a cellphone for longer than a year, and I've converted as many people as I can into Nokia users.
HOWEVER, I'm completely embarassed at Nokia's "presence" in the US Market. I put that in quotation marks because I don't think you can call it a presence. They currently have 3 phones that they themselves produce and market. The 6030, an entry-level phone that's 2 months away from EOL, the 6102(i)(3), a low-level flip that's also close to EOL (and quite possibly the worst Nokia I've ever touched) and the 6133, a mid-level flip that was announced nearly a year ago.
What's missing? Oh, that's right, smartphones. They have the E62, but it's already not on the Cingular price sheet for Feb except at the "special order only" area, which means only bother carrying it if someone asks for it. What about the N-series and E-series? I don't know, what about them? There's not a single one available in the US through Nokia's apparent distribution choice - Carriers.
It's not like they don't know how to please the Carriers. They've been doing this longer than any other company in the world. And yet they're getting OWNED here. Let's take a moment to look at the US 3G market. EV-DO is out since they can't make up with Qualcomm. We're up to Cingular's 3G. What's on the market thus far? An entry-level from LG (the KIA of cellphones) the CU400. Next is the CU500, which is actually LG's SECOND 3G phone. Now move on to Samsung. They've already had 2 3G phones PHASED OUT. They're on number 3 and 4 with the SYNC and Blackjack. Bring in the Treo and 8525, two Windows-powered mobiles. Where's Nokia? I don't know. Oh but wait, there's others at this little party. Motorola just launched their HSDPA RAZR. Yes, the RAZR is now more technologically advanced feature-wise than any Nokia on the market. AND THERE"S ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY!! The 3G KRZR was just announced today.
To be fair, they're trying. They've pitched the 6282 and N80 to Cingular with 3G, but wait, THEY FORGOT TO INCLUDE A WHOLE BAND (850 UMTS). Then came the N75, it was announced back in SEPTEMBER, and it's not out yet. In fact, Nokia's already one-upped it with the N76, and it's not even out yet.
WHAT'S THE DEAL FOLKS?! I'm not asking for anything special. I'm asking for a 3G Nokia device for the US. That's all. LG can do it. Samsung can do it. Motorola can do it. HTC can do it. Palm can do it. Why can't you, you big cellphone behemoth?!
I love you to death, but if you're not even going to try, stop embarassing yourself and GET OUT OF THE MARKET. I'll still buy your phones the way I always have, gray market.
And yes, you have a "retail presence." You have 2 stores that sell your wares. You have a completely wasted partnership with CompUSA, they still sell the 6682. You have all these beautiful Experience Centers all over the place, I've been to two of them. They're kept slightly out of date, and YOU CAN'T BUY A DAMN THING. WHAT"S THE POINT?!
You can't market something, guys, and not give consumers a place to buy it. YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE if you're going to market it. I personally believe that Nokias are the best cellphones you can buy. I have to, cause I have to spend ALOT of money on them, since I buy them at retail from importers. Not alot of US consumers do that.
Olli-Pekka, I'm pointing my finger at YOU. I hope you read this, and take it more as a concerned family member than a random internet rant. I WANT TO SEE NOKIA DOMINATE THE US MARKET. BADLY. But the way the company is going, you're making fools out of yourselves.
Let's go back to CES. It's the biggest electronics show in the US. THE US. You give this great big speech about how Nokia is an INTERNET COMPANY and all and how you're focused on the internet, and yet you announce 2 devices, one of which doesn't even have the appropriate GSM BAND, much less 3G. And the other only has EUROPEAN 3G. That's embarassing, like you don't understand or care about our market.
I live in Dallas, TX. We have HSDPA here. As you know from Europe, THAT"S FAST! But I can't use it, cause I only use Nokia phones. My Internet Company is limiting me to internet 2.5, while they're embracing and pushing 3.0 and 3.5 in every other market. |
