It's unusual for a company to publicly admit its shortcomings -- particularly a company as big, proud, and resolute as Nokia generally seems to be -- but an
All About Symbian /
Mobile Industry Review joint interview with Anssi Vanjoki, vice president of markets, at
MWC last week painted a very different picture with regard to Espoo's views on the maligned
N97. Though he says that the phone absolutely met the company's goals for sales volume and revenue, it was a "tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers and something [they] did not anticipate." This isn't a sob story, though: he uses the opportunity to note that they've completely closed the gap on software quality for the flagship device, launching new firmware first in Norway where the response has been positive. Considering that the N97 was announced way back in 2008, there's realistically nothing Nokia can do to give the phone a second wind atop the lineup, but Vanjoki seems genuinely convinced that they've learned some hard lessons and swallowed some tough pills throughout its life cycle -- and those lessons will bear fruit when
Symbian^3-based products roll around. Here's hoping.
posted February 23rd 2010 2:18PM
my n900 was bricked by nokias software update sending it back tracking it to location as we speak
@Atlantian Mine is fine...
@Mr w00t it was the one where the phone makes you connect it to the computer not the other 2 on the phone ones(think it was an os issue which is retarded why would a company not make software compatable with the newest os windows 7 thats been out a while but thats what i was told
Yes, I know it is funny how big companies consider paying customers as beta testers but man I ain't laughing. Nokia's jokes are waaay to expensive.
I used to be Apple hater but after I survived the brain damage that N97 gave me, I have to say that Iphone is a heaven on earth.
The problem is nokia software, The pc suite is garbage, and no linux or mac support, so no way to update the firmware of your phone without using windows (thats a big problem) Or dealing with vmware for just that 1 task is a pain
Next up, why such slow processors and ram? The N97 had the same processor as the N95 from 2006 , with little ram, whats the deal?
The OVI store is trash, the setup is horrible, and all the apps are garbage, the good apps arent even in the OVI store wtf
I really dont need to see " startreck teaser pictures " for 99Cent in the ovi store, or even free, its GARBAGE , sure android and apple have a fair share of garbage in the store as well, but Nokia launched with 99% trash in the store
The N97 mini is the same, its just better quality, same specs . The only shred of hope I see for nokia is the N900 great form factor and speed , maybe this will help them open their eyes
@Hydra N97 has an inferior processor compared to the N95 which only eclipsed by the N900. So technically, N95 still has the crown in N9x series.
@Hydra
Ovi Store is just an option. You are free to get apps from anywhere you like. Freedom is great, huh? Try using Google and search for "Symbian S60 5th Edition Apps" and enjoy. No Jobsian restrictions necessary.
I am glad they are finally listening to the complain.
But if Symbian^3 is the only answer, then they learn nothing.
2 most important things to fix, multimedia playback (video/audio support format), Language support.
@ecsw I also wouldn't mind DivX and Xvid natively.
@N900 exactly.
If I have to convert everything to MP4, I might as well get an iPod and stick with iTune. :p
I left iPhone because I can't stand iTune. :p
@ecsw
Funny you say that, because you can actually play pretty much all the audio/video formats the CPU can handle on a Symbian phone.
All you have to do is install an appropriate app. (I recommend FolderPlay for audio and CorePlayer for video.)
The same can't be said for the iPhone, of course (unless you jailbreak it), but neither for Android, AFAIK. Last time I checked you couldn't play AVI or FLAC files on it. I'm sure it's just a matter of time, tho.
@ecsw said: "2 most important things to fix, multimedia playback (video/audio support format), Language support"
Ever heard of Coreplayer? Nokia supports more codecs than the competition! Where you been??
@christexaport
no, never heard about it. But I will give it try now.
however, native video support without extra program would be nice.
@christexaport it's built for S60V3, not v5 friendly.
http://www.dotsis.com/mobile_phone/movie-player-tools/161414-coreplayer-v1-32-build-6909-s60v5-symbianos.html
@ecsw
You're totally right. I use Maemo now, totally forgot Coreplayer not out for 5th yet. 5th is a stopgap until S^4, and most into the phone game knew it.
@christexaport
Does Maemo supporting more codec natively? I should have gone with N900 instead....
Nokia Brick
Nokia 3650
Nokia N93
Nokia N93i
Nokia N76
Nokia N79
Nokia E71
Nokia N85
Those are the Nokias I have owned over the course of the last 10 years. I am a massive Nokia fan.
Frankly, just the thought that the geek community would be the slightest bit tempted by the N97 was a bit insulting. Before it even came out people were predicting it as a nightmare and they were more-or-less correct.
The question to be asked is why Nokia needed this lesson at all. Did they really think it was a viable alternative to the iPhone? That's just daft.
I certainly hope, REALLY HOPE, that this is straight-up. Because my N85 was going to be my last Nokia phone, and if this statement is assumed true, it may end up simply continuing my line.
N97 was an insulting product -- meanwhile other companies were releasing smartphones that had more powerful CPUs and more RAM with better software, Nokia decided to launch a "high end" device with a high pricetag that had an Armv11 CPU at a low clock speed, a resistive touch screen, and 128mb of ram. Give me a break. Maybe if they released the n97 a year earlier it may have had a chance with the competition.
So you ask, why were sales pretty successful? Simple -- brand loyalty in europe and asia. Nothing more. Nokia and Symbian (for what reasons I have NO idea) are VERY popular there. Stupid consumers? :P Here's hoping the rest of the world gets a taste of the android coolaid sooner or later and likes it.
@DoctarPeppar
agree.
but my rand loyalty actually came from seeing many Nokia phones dropped into water for more than a minute and still works after it's dry.
They have the build quality and that's why I stupidly thought N97 would be a great phone because it's from Nokia anyway. :p
@ecsw
You'll have to admit the N97's build quality is pretty good even with the weird screen hinge mechanism.
@Ericloewe
That's probably the only good thing about this phone -- I liked the hinge thing, I really did. The keyboard design and everything else though -- shite. Wtf is with the spacebar key? Lol.
@DoctarPeppar Yep my friend paid 600 here in the usa for his N97, and he swears its the best phone ever. But after he saw my N1 he realized how bad the N97 was lol
Snake 3D?
just make the damn 8800 erdos already! stop being concerned with social networking crap and all this software shit. make a simple high quality phone... thats it. if i want to email i'll sit in front of my comp. if i want to network i'll chat about how i spent a grand on a phone and watch women's panties melt off. when your phone does that like my nokia 8801 still does 5 years later, you know then that you have a good phone. all these companies have lost sight on how to make a good phone. i just hate to see nokia follow suit.
Meh. I don't think Nokia learned ANYTHING. Proof? Look at the just released Nokia X6. The operating system aside, it's buggy as all hell, still has incredibly low RAM, a low processor that makes it sluggish, and an awful build quality. Here's the real whopper: it's a Comes With Music phone...and the CWM feature doesn't even work!
So pardon me if I'm not buying this supposed mea-culpa.
@(Unverified)
x6 is a midrange model. And if you wanted more RAM, why'd you buy it? And CWM DOES work.
@christexaport
So, what, "mid-range" is code for "crap"? Trust me, the X6, and the E72 which I also returned, are the biggest pieces of s*** I've ever encountered.
I'd gather that an old flip Motorola Star Tech phone is better than the X6.
Oh, and CWM does NOT work in the U.S. What are we leppers here in the States? We don't deserve the music service?
@(Unverified)
CWM wasn't offered in the US, and it requires licensing to deliver music. That will come later. Luckily, you didn't have to buy the X6, and it wasn't offered here on carrier decks or with US 3G, so you bought a dud on your own. Stupid.
The X brand is akin to Sidekick in what market it focuses on. And the E72 is a great phone, but is 3rd Edition. No one argues its the best non touch UI OS out there, and of all time. It does all the things Android and iPhone OS does.
@christexaport
I LOL at your defending crappy products. I hope you're getting paid for it.
I, thankfully, got my refund for both phones. You, however, never get a refund for being a shill.
@(Unverified)
I can see you're the kind of person who must absolutely have a half-eaten apple on your electronics.
I knew it was a good idea when I Alt+F4'd instead of clicking submit.
I'm a PC, and Windows Phone 7 Series was my idea.
@FCUK YOUR COLORING BOOK
Like multitasking. Which my 6630 did back when 3G was 386 kb/s.
the n97 is terrible. super slow imo
I must admit for every N97 I see on the train there are 20 iPhones. I must admit Apple caught all the mobile makers flat footed while Apple realised it's not "just the phone" but the whole ecosystem that makes a good product.
PS I don't like the iPhone (user lockin, no battarry or SD card option) but I will give points were it is deserved.
@Ericloewe
The 6630 also did video calls, although it was a bit awkward since it only had the back camera :P
And Bluetooth file transfer, i still don't know how iPhone owners transfer files to their phone, do they use the cable every time?
But to be honest Nokia has fallen a bit short of my expectations lately, no new Symbian flagship phone in over a year, seriously? The N900 is of course another story, hopefully there will be a new Maemo phone out by the time my contract runs out. :)
Too slow, too little RAM, and too little phone memory. Get a better processor, 3x the RAM, and a bigger memory chip for the phone memory, and 75% of the complaints and problems go away. That's the lesson.
That you make overpriced, bulky, heavy phones with shit screens, shit keyboards, and an interface that isn't user friendly at all?
Maybe that's why Symbian saw a 5.5% year over year decrease and has near non existent market presence in the US. Get your shit together Nokia. I know Symbian has the largest smartphone OS marketshare but it won't stay that way for long if they keep this up.
Yes, Anssi Vanjoki. And here are a couple more lessons for you:
1. Timing. It takes nearly a year from product announcement to the day American customers can actually buy one. That is ridiculous. Whatever good will or anticipation you've built initially has long evaporated by the time the products become available for purchase. Case in point, the N97. And those dedicated few who bought one after the long wait are treated to a half baked phone that was already looking a bit tired compared to the competition that came along during the long wait.
2. Pricing. First you make us wait for a year, then you want us to pay $700 USD! Are you serious? A Nexus One with a fast processor without contract is under $600.
I've said it before, "oh I want to like you, Nokia, but you make it too difficult!"
It's a pity all the sites(and you), forget to mention SymbianFrance, which also participated in the interview. They have only been cited by All about Symbian...
This is not funny. I've had this damn phone for seven months three of which it's been away for repairs, phoned nokia help lines loads a time but was told everything was fine and the faults were not generic. Nokia's own discussion forum is full of complaints about it, I've wasted a lot time online from site to site trying to find some sorta solution and this is all nokia has to say!! not even an apology to all the frustrated users damn!
In the world of smartphones, talk about over-hyped, overcomplicated underperforming phones.
Nokia, after buying your product the n97 and with all the upgrades and still a dudd of a phone, tell me how are you doing to gain you lost customers? I for one would not buy a Nokia phone again.
So Nokia sells a boatload of phones with subpar user experiences. Business as usual!