Travel Technology - What is wrong with Nokia??? (New phones, features etc..)

They have gone bonkers...

Square phones? (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,43867,00.html)

Photo viewing medallions? (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,43613,00.html)

Portable Porn Viewer??? (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,43612,00.html)

Don't forget the n-gage, which apparently sucks: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=80041&cid=7061973

They obviously feel being out-innovated by Samsung, Kyocera, LG, and other Korean manufacturers.

So they want to bump up the innovations since they let their product line get too mature (ie 5100, 6100, 8100...)

Obviously some of these new designs are way too over-the-top IMHO.

Too bad they can't get back to basics and design good, innovative products that are not too bizarre.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
They obviously feel being out-innovated by Samsung, Kyocera, LG, and other Korean manufacturers.

So they want to bump up the innovations since they let their product line get too mature (ie 5100, 6100, 8100...)

Obviously some of these new designs are way too over-the-top IMHO.

Too bad they can't get back to basics and design good, innovative products that are not too bizarre.</font>

I agree, the days of the 2110, 8110 and 6110 are long gone http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/frown.gif

The largest growth demographic for cell phones is young folk. This is what they think will appeal to them.

Oh yeah, I'll be all over that Photo Viewing Medallion. I can't wait until 2004! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ScottC:
They have gone bonkers...
</font>

not as bonkers as siemens, who are coming out with this trash:

http://www.xelibri.com/
http://www.cellular.co.za/phones/siemens/2003/siemens-xelibri.htm

they've spent big bucks (including 30-sec primetime TV commercials) to push this sh*t, but i've yet to see anyone using one... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/rolleyes.gif

I'll tell ya ... is wrong with Nokia. It's called arrogance.

Take the N-gage for example. Months ago, everyone who got to see this device said "great idea but the game loading mechanism [where you need to take off the battery] is crap". Nokia are just so good they they decided they were right in the first place over this one.

Take the whole bluetooth issue where they failed to take a very significant piece of technology from a competitor seriously. I stopped buying Nokias over this.

Take the Communicator. How long have some of us been crying out for GPRS/Bluetooth enable version of this?

Edited to add: Hmmmm, an unusualy fiery post from me.

[This message has been edited by Internaut (edited 09-27-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Internaut:
I'll tell ya ... is wrong with Nokia. It's called arrogance.

Take the N-gage for example. Months ago, everyone who got to see this device said "great idea but the game loading mechanism [where you need to take off the battery] is crap". Nokia are just so good they they decided they were right in the first place over this one.

Take the whole bluetooth issue where they failed to take a very significant piece of technology from a competitor seriously. I stopped buying Nokias over this.

Take the Communicator. How long have some of us been crying out for GPRS/Bluetooth enable version of this?

Edited to add: Hmmmm, an unusualy fiery post from me.

[This message has been edited by Internaut (edited 09-27-2003).]</font>

Unusualy fiery but VERY true, well written!

I saw this a couple of years ago when they were something stupid like 18 months late to market with triband cell phones, and then released them on very limited models. Ericsson (SE) went the opposite way and started putting it in a lot of models, this coincidentally was the start of their resurgance in the market.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hfly:
I saw this a couple of years ago when they were something stupid like 18 months late to market with triband cell phones, and then released them on very limited models. Ericsson (SE) went the opposite way and started putting it in a lot of models, this coincidentally was the start of their resurgence in the market.</font>

I remember being at the CeBit and talking to Jorma Ollia, the CEO or Nokia, it was the year Motorola hit the market with the L7089 Tri-band phone, when I asked him about Nokia's plans for tri-band devices he was arrogant enough to answer that as long as they didn't think it was a necessary feature nobody would need it. According to him it was NOKIA who decided what was "cool" and what wasn't. Needless to say that passing through airports seeing 100's of business travellers all using their Motorola Timeports made it obvious he had screwed up and underestimated the market. Even Nokia's first "world" phone was a 900/1900 phone, long after Ericsson and Motorola had tri-band phones on the market.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by milehighj:
not as bonkers as siemens, who are coming out with this trash:

http://www.xelibri.com/
http://www.cellular.co.za/phones/siemens/2003/siemens-xelibri.htm

they've spent big bucks (including 30-sec primetime TV commercials) to push this sh*t, but i've yet to see anyone using one... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/rolleyes.gif</font>

The Xelibri concept is "phone as a fashion accessory." It's meant to sell into the same demographic that spends hundreds of dollars on a Luis Vuitton handbag. It's all about form over function.

You couldn't even buy the 1st generation in a traditional cell phone store. Only in fashio boutiques.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by winkydink:
The Xelibri concept is "phone as a fashion accessory." It's meant to sell into the same demographic that spends hundreds of dollars on a Luis Vuitton handbag. It's all about form over function.

You couldn't even buy the 1st generation in a traditional cell phone store. Only in fashio boutiques.

</font>

Strictly for wanabes in the "bling bling" sector. Real money that pays for real fashion pays for a Vertu.

Not being real in either sense, I'm not sure what type of handbag you might put a Vertu into though http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

Edited for English. I suffer from the curse of Travel Tech once more.

[This message has been edited by Internaut (edited 09-29-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Internaut:

Not being real in either sense, I'm not sure what type of handbag you might put a Vertu into though http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif
(edited 09-29-2003).]</font>

Probably Prada, Fendi, Vuitton, or Chanel. Putting a $6000 phone in a $2000 purse doesnt seem right. Well, they dont seem right separately either come to think of it http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

As to Nokia, they actually make a lot of phones. Some are very solid, very high quality phones with features matched to the business person. They are also trying to spread around to get as much market as they can by hitting the kids who want goofy stuff. Cant say I blame them. Actually, same is true of Siemens. They make some killer phones (S55 and SL55 for instance) for business use. But are trying to expand and creat some new markets. Cant say I blame them.

I like the term "torqued curves". My wife just got a picture phone from Verizon. I think that's enough technology to keep her busy till she is eligible for another upgrade. Does anybody really pay for downloadable games and ringtones?

Well, today they once again proved that they have lost the plot. While SonyEricsson and Motorola are introducing radical new phones Nokia has ONE new phone for Cebit, and of course they show the world that they haven't learned a single lession from their 3650 keyboard debacle and introduce the 7610, with another wacky keyboard...

All their other new products are stuff nobody is waiting for, image viewers a new carkit and a new mediamaster. I say Motorola and SonyEricsson will overtake them within 4 years.

But look at Mot's newer devices, they would have felt NO need to go away from the generic "candybar" and flip devices if folks like Nokia (and alot more so) Samsung didn't set some design standards.

BTW: The square Nokia 7600 is selling like hotcakes... Go figure this wacky market. For sure our view here on FT doesn't get listened to by either the device mfr's *OR* the end users.

Quad-band will be standard on the APAC designed GSM phones by mid next year... let's see how "slowly" Nokia grasps this.

Having the SAME PHONES for GSM900/1800/1900 and then another version with the ONLY CHANGE to RF as GSM850/1800/1900 is a logistical nightmare.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NickP 1K:
But look at Mot's newer devices, they would have felt NO need to go away from the generic "candybar" and flip devices if folks like Nokia (and alot more so) Samsung didn't set some design standards.

BTW: The square Nokia 7600 is selling like hotcakes... Go figure this wacky market. For sure our view here on FT doesn't get listened to by either the device mfr's *OR* the end users.</font>


I think the 7600 is selling so well because it's the first decent WCDMA device, so far the Moto and Nec phones haven't been well received...

Nokia who?

OK, it's official.

Nokia is now completely out of touch with the market:

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/new-nokias-nokia-7280-nokia-7270-nokia-7260-021004.php

What on earth are they thinking when they design this stuff?

OK, it's official.

Nokia is now completely out of touch with the market:

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/new-nokias-nokia-7280-nokia-7270-nokia-7260-021004.php

What on earth are they thinking when they design this stuff?

The 7620 looks sort of French. Perhaps they've hired a team of whakey Parisians?

Edited to add: Oh, that picture at the top of your linked page is a phone???

OK, it's official.

Nokia is now completely out of touch with the market:

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/new-nokias-nokia-7280-nokia-7270-nokia-7260-021004.php

What on earth are they thinking when they design this stuff?

They are desparately struggling (unsuccessfully) to stop the loss of market share to Motorola, Samsung & SE. They resisted a lot of new, popular features, stubbornly believing that they defined the market, not the other way around. Now they're paying the price.

I agree with most of the observations above, except that facts seem to belie our consensus that Nokia hasn't done anything right lately. Personally I think the last great phone that Nokia made was the 6310.



Cellphone Giant Nokia Raises Outlook for Quarter
By DAVID PRINGLE
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
September 9, 2004 1:47 p.m.

Nokia Corp, the world's largest cellphone maker, raised its earnings forecasts for the third quarter because of stronger-than-expected demand for its handsets in an early sign the Finnish giant may be turning around its business after a poor six months.

Nokia said it now expects to earn between 11 and 13 European cents a share in this quarter compared with its earlier forecast of between eight and 10 European cents a share.

Although that is still well below the 17 European cents a share Nokia earned in the third quarter of 2003, the new outlook was welcome news for investors who have seen their Nokia shares pummeled so far this year. In Helsinki, Nokia's shares rose 8% to €11.32 ($13.80), a jump that gave a boost to other stocks on both sides of the Atlantic.

Richard Simonson, Nokia's chief financial officer, said the global cellphone market is proving to be stronger than the company had expected so it has spent less on marketing. He also said Nokia has seen strong sales of some high-margin phones and is gaining market share in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. However, he cautioned that the Espoo, Finland, company still faces challenges in North America.

I dunno, the new 9300 is pretty amazing....

and as for the new releases today, they are not aimed at the early adopters.....which most people in this discussion group are, you can tell because it is a discussion group about technology...target buyers would never be in such a place :)

The lipstick phone with the apple like scroll wheel is chick-friendly (not meaning to offend...)

I think Nokia just passed the 1 million mark with the N-Gauge. The company I cant see going anywhere is Motorola. In addition to the N-Guage I think the new communicators have a lot of promise, both the 9500 and 9300 series. They are just trying to hit a lot of specialized market with a wide range of phones.

I think Nokia just passed the 1 million mark with the N-Gauge. The company I cant see going anywhere is Motorola. In addition to the N-Guage I think the new communicators have a lot of promise, both the 9500 and 9300 series. They are just trying to hit a lot of specialized market with a wide range of phones.

Motorola has a couple of winners on it's hands.

The Mpx smartphone will be cheaper and more flexible than the Communicators as it runs on PocketPC, the A630 with it's clamshell AND keyboard with AIM client will be massive amongst kids....

They are already doing great with phones like the V600, even though I hate Motorola phones with a passion :D

Th only thing I like about Nokia is that the same charger I bought four years ago still works. :p

When I was in Asia, I read that Nokia introduces about 4 new models a MONTH. Stupid. :td:

Th only thing I like about Nokia is that the same charger I bought four years ago still works. :p

When I was in Asia, I read that Nokia introduces about 4 new models a MONTH. Stupid. :td:

It's consumer electronics for a product with a short shelf life.. Samsung introduces 25 new phones/quarter (across all technologies and markets on average)

All I want is a GSM 6100 with quad-band, Bluetooth, and a standard head-set adapter. Period.

I don't want a camera or gimmicks. Just a good, SMALL, basic, professional phone.

(What is with that screwy headset adapter? A headset lasts a month before the connector doesn't seat firmly.)

All I want is a GSM 6100 with quad-band, Bluetooth, and a standard head-set adapter. Period.

I don't want a camera or gimmicks. Just a good, SMALL, basic, professional phone.

(What is with that screwy headset adapter? A headset lasts a month before the connector doesn't seat firmly.)I've been looking for the same thing.

I thought this article was pretty interesting...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/technology/04nokia.html

Nokia Falters, and the Finns Take Stock
September 4, 2004
By ALAN COWELL

HELSINKI, Finland, Sept. 3 - After the party, the hangover;
after the binge, the bills.

In the late 1990's, Finland sprinted ahead of rivals and
neighbors, propelled by the runaway success of Nokia in the
mobile phone industry and reveling in a newly minted image
as the world's leader in Internet and cellphone use. But
now, this land on Russia's flank seems to be pondering
whether it has lost its competitive inventive edge.

I love my Nokia 7210. 3 years old, still smaller than most current phones and gets the job done :)

All I want is a GSM 6100 with quad-band, Bluetooth, and a standard head-set adapter. Period.


I know what you mean. Last month my son (in college 3 hrs away) reported that he'd lost his cell phone. Both of us have plain vanilla phones with monochrome displays. I went to Verizon hoping to get a similar replacement and the only ones available had color displays, downloadable ring tones, available Internet access- stuff neither of us needs. Worse, the low prices they quote on the equipment apply only with a new 2-year contract- or if you re-start the clock on the current contract. I ended up spending $150 for fancy s*it I didn't want. A week later he found his old phone. Joy! I took all the stuff back to Verizon and got a credit.

Made me feel like a luddite even though I've had cell phones since 1996 and was using the Internet earlier than that.

I know what you mean. Last month my son (in college 3 hrs away) reported that he'd lost his cell phone. Both of us have plain vanilla phones with monochrome displays. I went to Verizon hoping to get a similar replacement and the only ones available had color displays, downloadable ring tones, available Internet access- stuff neither of us needs. Worse, the low prices they quote on the equipment apply only with a new 2-year contract- or if you re-start the clock on the current contract. I ended up spending $150 for fancy s*it I didn't want. A week later he found his old phone. Joy! I took all the stuff back to Verizon and got a credit.

Made me feel like a luddite even though I've had cell phones since 1996 and was using the Internet earlier than that.

Verizon is a bit of a special case. The selection of phones from them is in general very limited. I have a phone with web browser, Bluetooth, etc on TMobile but my Verizon phone is a very old Motorola V60i. I havent seen much real improvement over that among their line up. Nothing I wanted to buy. However, I got my wife a replacement for her monochrome Verizon phone a couple weeks ago (she broke it) and ended up getting her a Samsung a670 and it is a pretty nice phone. It has some stuff she didnt want but it is still really small. I still use an old Nokia 6310i. It has a monochrome screen and very little in the way of fancy features except Bluetooth which I use a lot. But it has great sound and performance and the battery seems like it is self regenerating or something, it never runs out.

Nokia embraces SD memory cards

SD-enabled handsets to be commercially available in the second half of 2005

http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/09/14/HNnokiasd_1.html

I have merged todays new Nokia news thread, as interesting as it may be there is no need for a new thread any time Nokia announces something new, so lets please keep them in one spot.

I still use an old Nokia 6310i. It has a monochrome screen and very little in the way of fancy features except Bluetooth which I use a lot. But it has great sound and performance and the battery seems like it is self regenerating or something, it never runs out.
I don't even bother packing my charger anymore for trips less than 4 days. Bring me a 6310i in a 6100 form factor and Nokia will have me for life.

I don't even bother packing my charger anymore for trips less than 4 days. Bring me a 6310i in a 6100 form factor and Nokia will have me for life.

Yeah, the "up to 17 days" standby time is impressive, but the "3 to 6 hours" talk time isn't that impressive.
Other phones have up to 12 hours of talk time (which of course doesn't help if the battery has run flat during standby ;))
Old Nokia phones are pretty nice, the new ones are just scary!!!

Yeah, the "up to 17 days" standby time is impressive, but the "3 to 6 hours" talk time isn't that impressive.
It has well over 6 hours talktime.
It is a very impressive 'phone for making and receiving telephone calls.

Yeah, the "up to 17 days" standby time is impressive, but the "3 to 6 hours" talk time isn't that impressive.
Other phones have up to 12 hours of talk time (which of course doesn't help if the battery has run flat during standby ;))
Old Nokia phones are pretty nice, the new ones are just scary!!!

Which Nokia's have 12 hours talktime? Even the newest models like the 6230 and the 7610 are quoted at no more than 3-5 hours.

At least with the older range you could get a hi-cap battery

Nokia exits ringtones

Nokia has bowed out of the ringtone market following poor sales from its Club Nokia website. Its exit should also smooth relationships with mobile network operators which think that their hardware providers should not try to sell content to their customers..

The global ringtone market is worth between $1.5bn and $3.5bn a year, but Nokia never made much of an impression on the market. It says it was never after market share, and merely regarded the site as a way of showcasing the capabilities of its hardware. It said: "The intention was to be a market maker to show Nokia owners what they could get for their new colour and java phones."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/20/nokia_exit_ringtones/

Nokia exits ringtones

Nokia has bowed out of the ringtone market following poor sales from its Club Nokia website. Its exit should also smooth relationships with mobile network operators which think that their hardware providers should not try to sell content to their customers..

The global ringtone market is worth between $1.5bn and $3.5bn a year, but Nokia never made much of an impression on the market. It says it was never after market share, and merely regarded the site as a way of showcasing the capabilities of its hardware. It said: "The intention was to be a market maker to show Nokia owners what they could get for their new colour and java phones."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/20/nokia_exit_ringtones/

How many ringtones did you purchase for your Nokia phone?

Which Nokia's have 12 hours talktime? Even the newest models like the 6230 and the 7610 are quoted at no more than 3-5 hours.

At least with the older range you could get a hi-cap battery

I never said that Nokia phones have 12 hours of talktime... There are other brands, you know ;) Nokia phones have about half the talktime compared to competitors.

It has well over 6 hours talktime.
It is a very impressive 'phone for making and receiving telephone calls.

The US Nokia site states "up to 5 hours" of talktime, while the Swedish Nokia site states "3 to 6 hours" for the 6310i

I bought 2 new Nokia 6225's recently.

They were total pieces of garbage.

(1) The cam was worthless: it couldn't even take a clear 640x480 shot that looked good enough to use as a screensaver on the tiny screen. The problem seemed to be with the shutter/software, not the resolution.
(2) The tiny screen was always too dimly lit no matter what I tried to do with the settings.
(3) Battery was good for about 1 hr of talk time - tops. Maybe 1 day of standby. It would go from 5 bars of batt power to dead in the span of a 10-minute phone call. I was constantly running out to my car in the middle of the day to charge the damn thing.
(4) Buttons were little and the navigation was complicated.
(5) I bought a DKU-5 cable and downloaded Nokie PC Suite and the correct drivers, but I never could get the phone to talk to my computer. As such, I never loaded it with contacts.

My wife's 6225 had the same problems with battery, screen, and cam - so I know it wasn't a one-off with a bad handset.

I returned the phones and swapped them for two Sanyo 8200's, which seem to me to be much better handsets all around than the Nokia 6225's. Better battery, clear pictures within the resolution constraints, a big bright screen, and a more intuitive navigation system. Plus the software on my PC communicates easily with the phone, so I can load contact and calendar information back and forth with no problems.

Now I just need some cheesy-a** ringtones. :)

I bought a second Nokia a couple of months ago (as the first one died a couple of days outside the warranty period).

Both phones have lousy reception inside buildings. It really peeves me to see other people happily making calls while I have to walk outside to get a useful signal.

I'm looking for something else that gets a better signal (not Nokia), so I would be interested in hearing any suggestions.

The US Nokia site states "up to 5 hours" of talktime, while the Swedish Nokia site states "3 to 6 hours" for the 6310i

That would be because in the US signal coverage is generally weaker, therefore the TX/RX power needs to run higer in the phone to get the same signal strength, and so the battery life goes down.

Nokia touts new smart phone

...The smart phone is based on the Symbian operating system and is capable of Web browsing, and handling e-mail attachments and PDF files. It has a foldable wireless keyboard, and users can print documents from it via Bluetooth, Nokia said.

The company said the phone a response to consumer demand for new wireless products.

"We are witnessing a rapid shift from PDAs (personal digital assistants) to smart phones, as manufacturers are able to include voice and PDA functionalities into a single device," Juha Putkiranta, senior vice president at Nokia, said in a statement.

The phone is designed for GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) networks. It will cost about $614 and will come in versions for both Europe and the United States...

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-5379193.html