Since that time, I have discussed and commented a lot about phones, and the various players, and one thing has become incredibly clear. There is a huge divide between Europe and the US. Europe loves Nokia. They have 40% world wide market share, and almost none of that comes from the states. This is particularly true in smart phones, where none of the top of the line Nokia phones are available through carrier deals.
What all this means is that Europe loves Nokia, and we in the U.S. are relatively unfamiliar.
I am not a Nokia user, but I am familiar with the OS in the same way as I am familiar with the iPhone, which is to say as someone who has read and discussed a lot about the platform and played with one, but does not own one.
But it is clear to me that the iPhone, despite its failings relating to background processing and other complaints, is a far better platform than the Nokia’s Phones and Symbian OS. But don’t tell that to a Nokia user. I posted a comment on Engadget about the risk that Nokia was under regarding the competitive threat of iPhone and other software focused companies, and was savaged by European Nokia zealots. People bring all of their nationalistic or pro continent baggage and are unable to engage in rational discussion about the issue. Its very much like criticizing Apple. There is a sizable contingent of people that have no interest in hearing anything negative about them. And they are similarly aggressive and vocal.
And so I wonder whether what all this means is that Nokia will be viewed in Europe as a European company, and as such more worthy by continent partisans. I don’t believe those of us in America like Apple products because they are American. After all, Microsoft is American as well. But for Nokia, there is no other European competitor and so, in many respects the zealous support may reflect a certain Pan European anti-Americanism.
As this battle gets more heated and Nokia becomes more fully engaged in building their next generation platform, it will be interesting to see how these tensions play out.
I'm European and I have *never ever* heard of anyone using Nokia just because of the fact they are European.
ReplyDeleteBut I agress, there're stupid people everywhere.
I am a European Nokia owner who likes his phone.
ReplyDeleteYou are completely wrong that Nokia is viewed in Europe like Apple is in the US. On what basis could they have earned such reputation?
You should never draw conclusions about any majority opinion purely based on listening to vocal zealots.
Isn't Sony-Ericsson a (Japanese-)European competitor to Nokia?
ReplyDeleteNokia is the number one brand in Singapore, where I live, as well. I think it is also the biggest cell phone brand in China. So Europe is only part of the story.
iPhone does have a better platform. At the same time, it does not matter. It would matter if it was an advantage that Apple could exploit, but they can't.
ReplyDeleteThis is a highly saturated and highly competitive market where innovation plays the second fiddle.
Why would I want a iPhone?? It hasn't 3G (in the Netherlands there is no EDGE support), it had no buildin GPS, I am not a music fan and I am not paying 50 Euro each month and 500 euro for the phone.
ReplyDeleteI am used to pay 25 Euro each month and getting a cashback of 400 Euro instead of paying 500 Euro
Hello i just want to tell people about Nokia, can anybody beat this my Nokia E90 had a problem with the display falt, when it close the telefone the keyboard touch the screen and mark the display,anyway i send it to nokia to be replaised and at first they said that it cant be done,wich i hade to wait for 1 month's and then i told them that is their faut and they have to do it so i send it right back and now is been 3 months and i stil dont have my phone wich i paid 1200€
ReplyDeleteSo i just want to tell everyone dont buy from Nokia if you are in Spain.
P.S I just hade a phone call that it stil will be a long time yet.If you buy, dont buy from nokia buy Iphone or Samsung Omnia or Even BlackBerry.
Wow, lots of stupid people in your comments section too :) I agree with you that their is some European-Nokia pride and Apple-US pride, but this is more down to customer loyalty than patriotism. Sure when people are involved in flame wars nationality will always come up.
ReplyDeleteI think the patriotic notion is ridiculous. Born and raised in the U.S., but I'll be the first to admit that in the cellular world, Nokia is king. Period. No one else compares to it, and that's why its the most popular phone not only in Europe, but in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe iphone came out with great software, and a superior platform, but its incredibly obvious to the long time cell phone user that they were rookies. You cannot do file transfers with bluetooth. Are you kidding me?? Thats about a 3 year step BACKWARDS! No video camera?? Another HUGE step backwards.
The iphone release revolutionized web browsing on mobile phones and looked "really cool", which is what appeals to the funny Americans I live with. America is and has been behind in the cellular world though, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they'd fall in love with a device just because things "look cool". Of course, they don't realize its lack of necessary features because they themselves are pre-historic when it comes it cell phones. Try telling them that Apple sucks because they lock you down and you cant run 3rd party apps on their phone... your response will be "You can run 3rd party apps on a cell phone???". Really!!
One thing Ill admit though, the Nokia user does have loyalty.. but its loyalty to NOKIA, not their country/continent. Once you go Nokia, you never go back. Since back in the late 90's, Nokia was the most user friendly phone with the best features, and its customers fell in love and refuse to use anything else.
Nokia has had a rough couple of years, but they're back on track on now. The N95 rivals the iphone, the 5800 beats the iphone, and the N97 will DESTROY the iphone.
Americans can continue spending 400$ (and getting locked down with AT&T for 2 years) just so they can watch youtube videos on their iphone. I for one, will spend half that on the 5800, while taking advantage of newer features, and not sacrificing things Ive had since 2003.
couldn've put it better myself! !!
ReplyDeleteAmerican's don't have a choice. We don't have access to all of the top-of-the-line Nokia's. I want a powerful, business oriented, Symbian phone but there is only one phone offered by a US carrier. That is the Nokia E71x with AT&T. It's a great phone but it's not even available with an updated version of the OS. So sure it seems klunky compared to the touch based iPhone. I personally hate iPhone's. They suck. They aren't business-user oriented and they aren't customizeable like Symbian and they don't offer the droves of 3rd party apps. To further frustrate users they have too many proprietary services and apps that non-iPhone users cannot access. Just like the Apple computer itself, the iPhone will whither away because it will never be practical for business users.
ReplyDeletemadarchod
ReplyDeletei hate americans choice ... because they hate nokia.. and world loves nokia..... dont forget that nokia was the first who introduced mobiles...
ReplyDeleteI am a European and I use nokia because it is very good brand , extremely good and VERY reliable , plus it helps my country's economy , and the E.U. economy in general so screw i phone nokia is THE best
ReplyDelete