Nokia Is Planning To Keep Its Maemo Platform Unlimited!!

Although customization and branding of a handset is usually one of the key issues for operators, Nokia is planning to improve user experience and satisfaction by keeping its Maemo platform and devices unlimited and truly open to anything! No more will carriers and manufactures tightly control the bits on your handset, for the first time users will be even able to put their own software on a high-end smartphone and enjoy the benefits of freedom and community.

Couple of years ago Nokia has unveiled a renewed strategy to offer GSM operator customers greater customization options of their S40 and S60 handsets.

In addition to offering the existing range of software customization options, the compact and stylish "Operator customization is at the heart of Nokia's strategy for mobile growth," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Executive Vice President of Nokia at t the 3GSM World Congress 2005 in Cannes, France.

"Nokia has been working closely with operators to create stronger product differentiation as well as to ensure greater choices and a compelling user experience for consumers. For the first time, we will offer industrial design customization for global GSM operators who are keen to have exclusive designs for their customers. We believe that this will truly be a win-win-win move for consumers, operators, and Nokia."

Apparently Nokia is going to change its strategy once again and will refuse carrier software customization of its first Linux based mobile device, raising the risk that some carriers, who focus on integrating their own services, customizations and limitations could refuse to offer the model.

"We have an opportunity, that we are going to take advantage of, with Maemo platform to play the game a little bit more along those lines than with Symbian lines," Rivas said.

Some analysts said Nokia cannot afford to skip tailoring software. "I don't believe Nokia can afford to say no to customization," said IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo. "For N900 to succeed on the market Nokia has to approve any service operator wants to run on the phone."

Nokia plans to use Maemo at the top of its phone range, while most of its smartphones would continue to use Symbian operating system, which it is bringing to lower and lower price points. "Smartphone is going very deep in terms of price point and high volume -- to the places never seen before," Rivas said.

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