Nokia to ramp up efforts in US

Some of you might remember the piece I wrote on Nokia a few months ago. Well fast forward to the end of 2008 (can you believe the year has gone so fast?) and the fact that Nokia just announced it’s going to ramp up R&D for US market. Well, it’s about time people. What were you waiting for before? 

See, that’s what I can’t understand about Nokia. They are a great company, hailing from a great country, but no common sense. Sure, it doesn’t make sense for a foreign company to get into the US wireless handset market – the population just isn’t there, say in an emerging market like India for example. However, Americans do have a lust for great wireless devices just like anyone else, and above all we prize gadgets that will help us to ‘do it all’. 

That’s why the smartphone market is growing here everyday. So when I came across this interview with Nokia chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo during his recent trip to Boston, I almost fell over in my seat.

Sadly, Nokia only has 6% of the US cell phone market which isn’t a lot considering their marketshare in the rest of the world. In addition, they have the Symbian OS which has been open source and a great alternative to Windows Mobile, I might add, for a long time.

So, what gives? Why have they not been able to surpass and do what Apple or RIM BlackBerry have been able to do? Nokia is an excellent example of how great devices and great technology don’t equal to success. After all is said and done, the great devices need to get into the hands of the masses and that’s what Nokia lacks. Otherwise the devices are completely useless.

I hope for all of our sakes that Nokia’s new efforts will be fruitful and will result in some great new devices for all of us here in the US. I’ll be on the lookout.