Nokia Preps iPhone Rival, Disses Apple's Sales

Engadget | Joshua Tolopsky | April 8, 2008 08:53 AM

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It appears that Nokia is readying its official response to the iPhone, a project grossly codenamed "Tube" that will feature a touch interface. The new handset -- which is said to closely resemble Apple's device (see above, we assume) -- was shown during a slideshow at the Evans Data Developer Relations Conference in Redwood City, California. The slide demonstrated the phone's UI, including a promotional shot featuring Shrek The Third. Tom Libretto, vice president of Forum Nokia, believes that the company can compete for the iPhone's marketshare, though the phone-maker hasn't set a street date for the device. Apple has sold more than 4 million units since the iPhone's launch, but Libretto smugly noted that, "We've done that [volume] since we've had dinner on Friday," (though he failed to mention that it was 4 million low-end candybar handsets).

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The competing phone-makers have been caught off-guard as usual, being stuck with "just a phone" against a competitor who's just launched a full-fledged no-holds-barred computer.

They can mirror "the look" fairly quickly, but the bar has been raised forever as to what sort of functionality people expect to have in their pockets from now on. They will do it, of course, and with Linux they'll be able to do it well. But they're going to be reading Apple's bumper stickers for a long time to come.

It was a classic long-term mistake: build something that sells well, and surround yourself with people who'll tell you that what you're selling is exactly what the customers want, and will always want. Perhaps the reason why Apple is at long-last enjoying such "overnight" success is that they never allowed themselves to think that way. It's a painful lesson.

Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:30 AM on 04/08/2008

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