Feb 4, 2014

Making sense of the Nokia Normandy

When rumor came out about Nokia coming up with an Android running handset, everyone was poking about it like its a statement made during April Fools Day for the reason that the company is tied up exclusively to Microsoft, but when Microsoft confirmed it themselves giving huge credence to the incident as one of the main reason why they bought Nokia's business device division, the poking stopped, and all Nokia Android hopefuls were devastated since it would only mean the said plan is far from fruition, not until lately when leaks came out about Nokia Normandy (Nokia X), a fully running Android handset forked to the taste of Metro UI which I saw as a compromised to get Microsoft's blessing.


Lets try to make sense with this strategy of Nokia and Microsoft:

First and foremost, they must have read the famous saying that "If you can't beat them, join them!" but with a trojan twist, like what Microsoft deed with Nokia when they throw Elop to the picture resulting to the latter's demise, according to conspiracy theorists that is. The trojan trick behind Nokia Normandy is that it is designed to prevent Google from earning revenues out of their offered services with Microsoft's full software being tagged instead. Smart move I would say, beating Google in their home front, but the question now is, how long will Google allow it and up to what extent?

Secondly, Nokia had already close their application store to developers affecting their Asha line up. Without the Nokia store, Asha is as good as dead, and for Microsoft and Nokia to compete in entry level market, they need an operating system with vast collection of apps. In this regards, Android is their only option.

Third, cheap, they need to offer a device that could compete against emerging Chinese manufacturers who re-brand phones, and in what operating can Nokia and Microsoft keep the price dirt cheap, again, Android with the system being free to EOM's. With this system, Nokia could go down to as much as $50.00 per phone, well enough to compensate the hardware cost, like what this aforementioned manufaturers are doing.

And finally, because Windows Phone is not ready to power entry level handset just yet, the bulk of the phone market, that is, currently being gobbled up by competitors. This market is used to be Nokia's stronghold few years back, now its slowly slipping away, drained to small competitors who were willing to offer practicality other than quality.


Since their is no stopping the Normandy from being released to the world, I could presumed that I'm more likely be able to own an Android device first than Windows Phone because I can easily afford it being cheap, and that still, I find the Microsoft operating system incomplete. Now don't get me wrong here, I like Windows Phone more than Android, its just that the system is not worthy to replaced my well loved Symbian just yet. I'll be buying the Normandy to have access to my favorite apps like access to full Viber features, SWYPE, Flipboard and more; not to be left out to the world for cool new ones since Nokia Store is being shelve; and that it will be made by a trusted brand, nothing more. I will even use it only as a back up reloader phone with Nokia E6 as my primary.

But Microsoft should not feel complacent about it, I might grew fond of Android in the process and rather go with it all the way. They must act fast to heed the calls of every Symbian enthusiasts who were running out road to take. Listen, develop, execute... Its now or never!

Images by @evleaks

0 comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...