Lumia 800 not enough to stop Nokia from losing €1 billion by the end of 2011
Nokia took on Microsoft’s Windows Phone, replacing its focus on Symbian OS, in the hopes of getting back in the game. It has lost ground to the likes of Apple’s iPhone 4S and Android’s Samsung Galaxy S2. The first Nokia Windows Phone was the Lumia 800, which was reported to sell more than 1 million units in the last quarter of last year. Sadly, this was apparently not enough to stop the Finnish phone manufacturer from losing an overwhelming €1 billion by the end of 2011. The Finnish firm has just recently announced it Q4 2011 results, which reveals a loss of £800 million.
Nokia’s Windows Phones may not have made a significant impact on the market, but the company still sells a chunk load of Symbian handset in developing markets. So how did this happen?
According to uSwitch.com’s Ernest Doku, Nokia’s Symbian handsets may save the company’s neck for now. However, eventually, developing markets will someday mature and will want to get their hands on smartphones. Unfortunately, the Lumia 800 is nothing compared to Android handsets and iPhones, despite focusing more on the Windows Phone Live tile user experience rather than specs.
Despite a slow start, there is hope for Nokia and Windows Phones. According to Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst from IDC, Nokia’s next six months of converting from Symbian to Windows Phone may seem grueling undertaking, but Nokia, with its partnership with Microsoft, is soon to be the top Windows Phone manufacturer, leaving other Windows Phone manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC behind.
We’re hoping things change once other Nokia Windows Phones such as the Lumia 710 and Lumia 900 arrive.
Do you think Nokia can still get back in the game, or do you think it’s too late for the ailing phone manufacturer? Give us your thoughts.
