Industry comments on six new Nokias launches
At the first Nokia World since Microsoft made public its intention to acquire Nokia, the company announced six new devices. In the Lumia and Asha ranges. Finally,
the Finnish based company has embraced two of the fastest-growing form factors in today’s device market: – phablets and tablets. The Lumia 1520 is an attractive-looking phablet with high-end specifications. Nokia’s lower-priced phablet, Lumia 1320, is also an intriguing proposition. However, Nokia’s first tablet (based on Windows RT) the Lumia 2520 is significant because it won’t be offered as a Wi-fi only device. Only one that runs via LTE.
According to IDC analyst, John Delaney, “The timing of this device is especially good for the European market – many operators are ramping up their LTE coverage.”
he believes that they could do well, “Especially if they are positioned effectively for business users looking to replace Blackberry devices.”
Malik Saadi, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, concurs, “The strategic choice of Nokia not to offer a Wi-Fi-only variant of the Lumia 2520 is certainly an attractive proposition to operators that want to promote LTE data plans for tablets.”
Three new touchscreen Asha models, 500, 502 and 503, join the 501 in Nokia’s latest range aimed at emerging markets such as India.
Crucially, all new Ashas support Wi-fi along with the key social/communications apps.
These already included Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Viber, Line and WeChat – and Nokia has recently announced that WhatsApp available, too.
However, it is the choice of a 10? format with the 2520 which Saadi finds the most controversial decision.
“Nokia could have gone with the same strategy but using a smaller form-factor tablet, let’s say around 8 inches”, he explained.
“The competitive price of this type of device could be even more attractive for both operators and end users. These devices are a lot more portable and more convenient to carry compared with 10” devices.”
Why it has taken Nokia so ling to realise it was wasting the chance to flog tablets to mobile network operators is a puzzle to GoMo News.
If China’s Lenovo does actually take over BlackBerry, will we finally see a decent tablet to replace the ageing PlayBook?
Hans Cett is an established freelance author and consultant specialising in the mobile communications industry. He also writes for Countdown2MWC - http://countdown2mwc.wordpress.com/
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