Nokia announced their Q4 results today. While no one's surprised they lost money it's interesting to see that they sold 'well over 1 million' Lumia's.
1 Million is a big number but a drop in the bucket when you consider how large the overall Smartphone market is. Google claims that over 700,000 Android devices are activated per day.
Still, you have to put Nokia's Windows Phones in perspective. They launched them around 6 months after they announced their partnership with Microsoft. Even if you assume that Nokia and Microsoft were working on a Windows Phone for a few months before the announcement (let's say 2 or 3 months), turning out a phone in 6-9 months is a pretty good turn-around.
It's a glass half-empty, half-full full scenario. On one hand, Nokia didn't sell that many Windows Phones. On the other hand they're just getting started. Hopefully this year will bring more interesting handsets which will stand out from other Windows Phone OEMs.
Personally I think the Lumia 800 and 900 boast the strongest industrial design out of all the current Windows Phones. They're the most unique and interesting looking of the current batch of Windows Phones (with HTC a close second).
One obstacle could be Microsoft's strict enforcement of the Windows Phone UI. While I think it's absolutely necessary for the success of Windows Phone it makes the Lumia 800, less Nokia-y, The HTC Titan, less HTC-y. Sticking Nokia Maps on a Windows Phone doesn't make it very Nokia like. The 800 is very Nokia on the outside but inside is a different story.
On the upside Microsoft is really depending on Nokia when it comes to the success of Windows Phone. The other big Windows Phone players are knee deep in Android. HTC has the Radar and the Titan on the Windows Phone side while on the Android they have the Raider, Amaze, Evo 3D, Status/ChaCha, Widefire S, Sensations, etc. Nokia is the only major Windows Phone player that doesn't do Android as well. It's in Microsoft's best interest to see Nokia do well.
Based on the modest gain in Nokia's stock after they announced earnings it seems investors are cautiously optimistic about Nokia's future. If I were to sum it up in a few words it would be: "It wasn't that bad".
What do you think? Glass half empty or full? Or does Nokia need a new glass?
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