Nokia Corporation Message Board

Finnish firm hopes to regain lost ground with its Windows Phone devices
This year could be a tipping point for Windows Phone device manufacturers such as Nokia Oyj with early indications the handsets have achieved a good start in major smartphone markets including China, according to the boss of Nokia China.
In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Gustavo Eichelmann, chief executive officer of Nokia China, expressed confidence in Nokia's turnaround in China, as well as in the global smartphone market in 2013.
Mexico-born Eichelmann took the job in China amid a turbulent time. He has been the third China chief since Nokia devoted itself to developing smartphones on Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system in 2011.
Finland-based Nokia held almost half of the smartphone market share in China more than two years ago, but the figure slipped to a mere 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter last year, according to Beijing-based firm Analysys International.
"It is because it has only just begun," Eichelmann said. "Think about iPhone and Android devices in their first six months. If you look at the Windows Phone, its trajectory is actually right on track. There will be an increasing but gradual acceleration in 2013. If we fast-forward to 2016 and we look back, you will see that 2013 was the turning point in terms of changing the trajectory."
One of the possible reasons why Windows Phone devices may enjoy greater popularity is because more people will get to know about the platform. Microsoft, the developer of the Windows Phone operating system, has begun introducing Windows PCs and Windows tablets with exactly the same user interface.
"More people know about the system. The viral effect - word of mouth - is starting to take place," Eichelmann said.
Competitive market
Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia Corp, said at the end of last year that China is the biggest market globally for Nokia's Lumia series Windows Phone devices.
The company launched its first Lumia smartphone

Sentiment: Strong Buy

Handsets market share statistics in Ghana for the seventh week of 2013 indicate that Samsung, Nokia and a collection of Chinese phones, which do not necessarily have popular brand names, are topping the sales charts consistently.

But in terms of revenue, Samsung commands a comfortable lead with a wide margin ahead of second place Nokia, arguably on the back of its Galaxy range of smartphones.

The figures from German-based GFK made available exclusively to Adom Business shows that at week seven, Samsung sat at the top of the charts with a market share of 33.51%. On revenue, Samsung held 55.28% at week four, but that increased to 56.65% in week seven.

Nokia, which has been struggling globally at 6% market share, held an impressive 27.33% market share in Ghana at week four, but its market share declined marginally to 27.06%, and the equivalent revenue was 22.33%, a decline from 22.91% in week four.

But it was in week five that Nokia recorded its highest revenue share of over 25%, while Samsung also recorded its lowest revenue share of 54.17%.

Nokia has for a long time focused on feature phones, while other handset dealers manufactured and marketed smartphones. But the Finish handset giant has recently launched it Lumia range of smartphones, which is already poised to turn its fortunes around as recent loyalty research showed.

Meanwhile, the category listed as “Other Chinese Phones” came in third behind Nokia with almost 27% market share in week seven, but recorded a rather lower revenue share of a little over 11%.

"....IDC research director Francisco Jeronimo said the new products, which also included the Lumia 720 smartphone with the same camera lens as the 920, gave Nokia a comprehensive range, leaving little excuse for poor sales.

"If Nokia does not improve its market performance with these devices, then will never do without a radical change on its portfolio strategy," he said.

The Nokia 105 would probably be the cheapest phone available in the world from a major brand, he said.

"The pressure is now on the Chinese vendors. Why will any consumer in the world buy a cheap Chinese phone when they can have the same price with better quality from a well known brand?"

Nokia's Lumia phones have won plaudits from industry analysts for features such as photography and mapping, but sales have been dwarfed by devices from the likes of Samsung running Google's Android software and Apple's iPhone." this is from Reuters

This is the point for those of you whinning about Nokia not launching pureview,Cat walk and Tablets.This is how Nokia will win the smartphone battle going forward.The upper end smartphone will be announced in the coming weeks and months but its the lower end smartphones where the growth is and where the bulk of the next smartphone buyers are.

Sentiment: Strong Buy

Reading the first few reaction to MWC,I could not help but laugh off some of the comments.

First things first: Launching a complete price range for Lumia smartphones is the right strategy of attacking Samsung and Fending off competition from the Chinese.

Secondly,in 2012 smartphones with prices lower than 250 dollars grew at 99% and smartphones over the 250 at just 23% according to IDC.So,the growth of future of smartphone is 250 or below price range and Nokia is right to to produce 520,620 and 720 Lumias and Asha smartphones.
Third: Nokia will announce the Catwalk,Pureview and Tablets at major events to maximize media exposure and free marketing that comes with the major announcement.Had nokia announced these top end smartphones today,then they would have lost major media coverage for the lower end smartphones.Think about that folks.This is not the end,Its the begining.

Sentiment: Strong Buy