Opinion Nokias last sigh
Expectedly,India will be among the first countries to see the Lumia phones,somewhere around Christmas.
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It could well be the giants last sigh. With other phonemakers coming out with one Windows Phone after the other,Nokia had no choice but to follow suit. Nokia is banking heavily on the Windows Phones to help it regain its once dominant position in the sector and had hoped its tie-up with Microsoft will prop up its flailing fortunes.
The original plan was to launch the phones early next year. But since others like Samsung,HTC and Acer already have Windows Phones in the market,the Finnish company seems to have feared that the novelty of the new OS would wear out soon. So,now,Nokias Windows Phones the pricey Lumia 800 and mid-level Lumia 710 — will be available in Europe within a month.
But the success of the phones will depend to a large extend on the specs of the devices,for there isnt a lot the companies can do with Microsofts OS as the interface and experience will be the same across devices. Nokia on its part has added a new Nokia Maps navigation apps and Nokia Music to the Metro tiles,but the customization ends there.
As far as the device goes,the Lumia 800 looks a lot like a slim N9 and runs the latest Windows Phone Mango. It has a 1.4 Ghz processor,3.7-inch 800×480 AMOLED display,16GB memory,and a 8MP camera at the back. Good,but nothing that will take your breath away,especially when you know it costs as much as the iPhone 4s or the new Samsung SII at 420 ,almost Rs 30,000 . The Lumia 710 also has 512MB of RAM,8GB of storage,a paler WVGA TFT screen and 5MP camera for almost half the price of its big brother; nothing here that will make it an outright winner.
I doubt the entry of Windows Phones in the Indian market also acted as a catalyst for Nokias haste. Considering that it once held a 65% market share over segments,this is once place where it cannot afford to slide further. Its smartphone dominance has already been usurped by cheap BlackBerrys and Androids,while Micromax and other small players have over the years eaten into it entry-level market pie. What is left is mid-level where Nokia still rule,thanks to the Indian customers familiarity with the brand and its goodwill.
Symbian has never been a popular OS in India and Nokia is hoping the Windows Phones,thanks to Microsofts hold on consumer minds in India,will help it regain some of the smartphone market. While I doubt if the Lumia 800,a phone that will cost around Rs 30,000 will be that successful here,I am more positive about the prospects of the Lumia 710,which might sell here for under Rs 20,000. Thankfully,and expectedly,India will be among the first countries to see the Lumia phones,somewhere around Christmas.
Heres hoping Indias favourite phonemaker finds success.
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