The internets are ablaze with people (Nokia fans mostly) cursing Stephen Elop for his decision to inevitably drop the Symbian OS and pick up Microsoft’s WP7 as the new Nokia Smartphone OS.
Of course Nokia fans are upset. They don’t like change. Nokia have stayed as true to their original OS as they possibly can while trying in vain to move forward with advances in mobile technology to keep their dwindling crowd of supporters happy. It was never going to last.
The first point I’m telling people is this – The move will not change or have any impact on Nokia’s base handset range. It only applies to their Smartphones. Personally I see this as a refreshing change. As someone who sells mobile phones, the Symbian OS has been a pain in the ass since its conception. It has never worked properly and has been the OS most prone to faults, anyone remember the N73?
On top of this, Nokia has slowly been falling behind the rest. Apple’s iOS, Google Android, Microsoft WP7 and WebOS have all embraced one aspect of modern mobile phone use – Apps. Not Widgets (the poor man’s excuse for an App), but a totally independent program that gives the user access to anything they want. Nokia just haven’t done what they need to with this – perhaps the limitations of Symbian have prevented it?
One thing I do agree with the unhappy Nokia peeps (and employees alike) is that Elop’s decision does seem to have been influenced by ulterior motives. Only 6 months ago he was president of Microsoft’s Business division! How interesting then that he suddenly gives up a cushy position with one of the biggest corporations in the world and in a matter of months has helped Microsoft infiltrate one of Europe’s oldest industrialists.
So why would Microsoft want their software integrating into a handset that, by its own CEO’s admission, was dying? Put simply, Nokia has distribution. Distribution Google doesn’t yet have. Nokia has dealers and stores all over the world. Places Apple won’t have stores in for decades, if ever. Microsoft, it seems, have done their homework. And why wouldn’t they have? Until WP7 they were pushing an antiquated OS (Windows Mobile 6.x) and losing serious ground; in essence making them a latecomer to the party that they started in the 90’s.
With HTC being the only manufacturer that would take on WP7, Microsoft needed a well positioned partner. Nokia has great hardware design and supply chains. They always have great cameras and screens. Supply chains matter a lot, perhaps more than anyone thinks.
Lastly, as I have heard a lot of people asking this question, why didn’t Nokia include Android before all this blew up? I think the answer is simple. Most of Nokia’s main competition have already integrated Android. With the minor customisation that the manufacturers have been allowed put into the software, in essence that makes them all the same. Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S to the Sony Ericsson X10i shows very few decision making differences. Why would the consumer choose one over the other? Personally I hate them both. My criteria for choosing a handset is reliability, specification, and finally being different. I think that a lot of people take a similar approach. This explains how Apple have sold so many iPhones, especially as you have to pay more for the privilege of having one.
Change is coming, whether you like it or not. Embrace it because I think in 2012 we will see something very special emerge from the town of Nokia, Finland.
