The only thing I can think of is maybe they have terrible relationships with US carriers. it's not like carriers are picky about the phones they carry, so what else would be preventing Nokia from approaching them more?
I think we'll soon see that change. I've said previously that there's 2 P's that Nokia misses: Promotion and Place. They're fixing place, offering their devices from Dell, Target, and moving into Staples, etc.
Once they've got the devices in stores, THEN they can really start a marketing blitz.
Smartphones are one thing. The low end is where the volumes are. Flood the US market with the Nokia 1100s and similar low-end devices without carrier branding.
be cool to see a nokia end cap at target or walmart ... Even costco. One trick will be consumer rducstion on the brand ... Low end in discount retail amd higher end N-series direct -- bloomingdales sells gear in the men's department and I've seen the n73 there...
Think about the product and the place. Costco actually skews higher income than walmart and target, but either way people could be easily informed and those stores move massive quantities
The low end is wide open here. Pretty much all of the free to low cost phones suck ... They move though because of the carrier subsidy. A simple education ... Swap the sim and go ... Could potentially convert quite a few
There are billions who can't even afford the €45 phones. That, for better or worse, is where the growth is. And the high-end features will trickle down to that price point soon enough.
If Palm doesn't get their act together soon (and I don't forsee that) there should be a new batch of users looking for smartphone alternatives as they start to jump ship (that is, if you can convince them that the iPhone is NOT a smartphone)
I could convince my sister to get a Nokia mid-range IF it worked on Verizon and came in Pink like the crap ass RAZR she uses now. Same with her husband who uses a KRZR. They just take what looks interesting from the carrier... Of course Nokia no longer makes the CDMA stuff here, so that's a lost cause for the time being.
I think the other problem is getting people with old "feature phones" (cheap) to give them up. I work in the mobile industry and have pretty much every type of phone (w/ the exception of the iPhone) and I can't even convince her to give up here ancient Sony-Ericson (non-UIQ/Symbian) candybar phone. It works for her. She can SMS w/ it, and take pictures (although w/o a data plan, those pics are stuck on the phone). I have even offered to let her use my now retired "Scoble" phone. She's just not interested. Wonder if its mainly a US thing, or if it's just my wife not wanting me to rule one more of her gadgets.
29 comments so far
I could not agree more... one of the great marketing mysteries to me. Not like Nokia is a small upstart.
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
The only thing I can think of is maybe they have terrible relationships with US carriers. it's not like carriers are picky about the phones they carry, so what else would be preventing Nokia from approaching them more?
2 years, 6 months ago by zacharye
Also - the US definition of a 'smartphone' always gets me..
2 years, 6 months ago by whatleydude
What, you don't like the treo? ;)
2 years, 6 months ago by zacharye
I think we'll soon see that change. I've said previously that there's 2 P's that Nokia misses: Promotion and Place. They're fixing place, offering their devices from Dell, Target, and moving into Staples, etc.
Once they've got the devices in stores, THEN they can really start a marketing blitz.
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
Smartphones are one thing. The low end is where the volumes are. Flood the US market with the Nokia 1100s and similar low-end devices without carrier branding.
2 years, 6 months ago by phoneboy
It's sad that's true. Low end phones bother the hell out of me, it's like the dumbing down of society, imo.
But you're right, flood it with low-end and get the name and recognition out there, as well.
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
be cool to see a nokia end cap at target or walmart ... Even costco. One trick will be consumer rducstion on the brand ... Low end in discount retail amd higher end N-series direct -- bloomingdales sells gear in the men's department and I've seen the n73 there...
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
Perhaps I'm elitist, but I personally would be sickened to see a Nokia endcap at Target or Walmart, or worse yet, Sam's Club or CostCo.
At the same time, there's still a market for that low-end handset. I don't know.
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
Think about the product and the place. Costco actually skews higher income than walmart and target, but either way people could be easily informed and those stores move massive quantities
The low end is wide open here. Pretty much all of the free to low cost phones suck ... They move though because of the carrier subsidy. A simple education ... Swap the sim and go ... Could potentially convert quite a few
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
I mean, I agree 100%. It just bothers me that they would be encouraging people to use low-end phones.
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
keep in mind we are in a rather small minority of prosumer users ...
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
Also true. I wonder, though, if they'd rather sell 100 million low-end handsets, or 1 million high-end handsets. Or both.
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
both man. Thats why they make so many models ... Plenty of room to grow within the brand and products for both emerging and mature markets
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
yes I would definitely say both ends, and everything in between!
2 years, 6 months ago by cybette
If you don't believe there is a market for low end Nokia phones, spend 5 minutes on eBay.
2 years, 6 months ago by phoneboy
I know there is a market, I'm just saying that I would MUCH rather them focus on high-end handsets rather than low-end
2 years, 6 months ago by rcadden
There are billions who can't even afford the €45 phones. That, for better or worse, is where the growth is. And the high-end features will trickle down to that price point soon enough.
2 years, 6 months ago by phoneboy
Forget about the high end for a second, people already said that the iPhone is too much at $600.
There are plenty of mid range Nokia's that are not getting love here in the states. I saw at least 3-5 6300's in the UK.
2 years, 6 months ago by constantine
Popular handset here that is..
2 years, 6 months ago by whatleydude
But then again most people here can get handsets for free via operator contract subsidies..
2 years, 6 months ago by whatleydude
I think your [Ricky] definition of "low end" will change once S40 gains the ability to multitask.
2 years, 6 months ago by constantine
Not if they keep putting out $800 s40s...
2 years, 6 months ago by zacharye
Ummm the fashion line was always expensive, there are plenty more S40 phones in what you would call the mid price range.
2 years, 6 months ago by constantine
If Palm doesn't get their act together soon (and I don't forsee that) there should be a new batch of users looking for smartphone alternatives as they start to jump ship (that is, if you can convince them that the iPhone is NOT a smartphone)
2 years, 6 months ago by JavaDog
Palm is dead.
I could convince my sister to get a Nokia mid-range IF it worked on Verizon and came in Pink like the crap ass RAZR she uses now. Same with her husband who uses a KRZR. They just take what looks interesting from the carrier... Of course Nokia no longer makes the CDMA stuff here, so that's a lost cause for the time being.
2 years, 6 months ago by atmasphere
Palm's demise aside, I agree with Phoneboy. Look at Nokia's earnings reports. Cheap handsets are the growth sector.
2 years, 6 months ago by mochant
I think the other problem is getting people with old "feature phones" (cheap) to give them up. I work in the mobile industry and have pretty much every type of phone (w/ the exception of the iPhone) and I can't even convince her to give up here ancient Sony-Ericson (non-UIQ/Symbian) candybar phone. It works for her. She can SMS w/ it, and take pictures (although w/o a data plan, those pics are stuck on the phone). I have even offered to let her use my now retired "Scoble" phone. She's just not interested. Wonder if its mainly a US thing, or if it's just my wife not wanting me to rule one more of her gadgets.
2 years, 6 months ago by JavaDog
(Whoops... by "her" I am referring to my wife)
2 years, 6 months ago by JavaDog