Category Archives: nokia
Nokia’s failings cut CEO’s pay packet in half
Sluggish sales of Windows phones to blame
Finnish manufacturer Nokia has slashed in half the earnings of its CEO Stephen Elop as it battles to restore its fortunes. The former Microsoft executive received €4.3 million in cash and stock options last year [2012], according to US regulatory filings, down by 45 per cent from €7.9 million in 2011 when he received a €2 million “golden handshake” to join the phone giant. Continue reading
Guest Post: How the Premium brand dual-SIM smartphone became a reality
by Asif Iqbal, a blogger & consumer electronics expert with MySmartPrice
We’ve seen strong sales in niche categories getting a lot of attention from manufacturers. One such niche is the dual-SIM category. The relative ease with which a SIM card can be obtained combined with the low tariffs mean that a lot of users (especially in India) choose to use two numbers simultaneously. As such, the dual-SIM segment has also grown to cater to a wider audience in terms of choice.
First, the low cost Chinese brands were the first to go aggressive with the release of dual-SIM phones which had other features such as really loud speakers and touchscreens. Continue reading
More on Nokia N73 update problems
Rating: One reader thinks he has the answer
Here @ GoMobile Towers we are constantly inundated with questions concerning how to update the OS [operating system software] in a Nokia N73. It appears that this little smartphone enjoys a thriving ecosystem in the India subcontinent and parts of Africa. That’s even though the model has long been discontinued and Nokia has stopped providing support for this handset. What we still don’t quite understand is exactly why so many people want to update the OS in this handset. Well, one reader seems to think it is because that a persistent bug keeps appearing and has provided his solution. We’ve also decided to publish the specifications for this handset. Continue reading
Big surge in UK sales of Windows phones
Consolidating position as No.3 platform
Sales of Windows smartphones have grown by a staggering 240 per cent in a year and now account for 6.2 per cent of the UK market, latest figures from research firm Kantar reveal. In the past year some 700,000 new Windows users were added, while in the three months up to end of January 2013 the Microsoft-based devices – spearheaded by Nokia’s Lumia 800 and HTC’s 8X – surpassed those of BlackBerry in Britain. Continue reading
New Samsung phones could usurp Nokia in BRIC countries
Will REX rule?
South Korean giant Samsung has unveiled scaled-down Java versions of its flagship Galaxy S3 handset, pitching the new REX range at emerging markets in a move that could undermine Nokia.
Last month Nokia reported a small profit for Q4 as phone sales increased from 2.9 million in the previous quarter to 4.4 million, suggesting [...]
A possible problem with WP7.x apps running on the Lumia 820
Rating: Or it could just be a problem with the Register’s news app
Now they say that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones (and more on this later) but … a GoMobile News reader contacted us yesterday to complain that he had loaded an app onto his spanking new Nokia Lumia 820 smartphone and it wouldn’t work. Initially we suspected that it could well be a problem that apps designed for earlier Windows Phone handsets – running Windows Mango W7 or even version 7.8, could encounter problem when run under Windows Phone 8. Now we are not so sure. It could be that the app in question – UK news site, The Register, has problems with all of its apps not just Windows Phone. Continue reading
Claimed Nokia N97 OS upgrade to Belle creates havoc
Rating: It’s just not possible, OK?
We were wondering why a number of readers were asking us about a possible OS upgrade for a legacy Nokia handset – the N97. Most readers want to know how they can install the latest version of Symbian – Belle, on this handset. The short answer is that you can’t. The N97 was running S60V5 – which translates roughly to Series 60 v5.0 in layman’s terms. So it simply can’t take an upgrade to either Anna or Belle. Why do people think it is possible, we wondered? Then we found a reference to it in a Nokia discussions forum here. Sadly, it is a spoof claim. Continue reading
Nokia WP7.8 OTA upgrade notification fails
Rating: Stealth release of the upgrade from W7 Mango
Here at GoMobile News we have been awaiting the upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8 (which replaces W7 Mango) with bated breath. Virtually every day since early January [2013] we have been going to the ‘phone update’ page within the handset hoping to see that the upgrade had finally been released. The screen kept saying “No updates found” – even though we had ticked the box which says, “Use my mobile data connection to check for updates.” Then on Friday [February 1st 2013] we needed to use Zune on a PC to check for a particular music track. Imagine our surprise when the screen suddenly asked if we wanted to upgrade. Windows Phone 7.8 (WP7.8) was suddenly there! Continue reading
Feint ray of hope for Nokia from Q4 sales
Rating: Whatever happened to Nokia’s MeeGo sales figures
The focus and a very high percentage of the analysis over the last few days has focussed on the battle between Samsung and Apple for dominance in the smartphone sector. With a BlackBerry 10 OS handset or handsets set for release in a few days time [January 30th 2013], RIM has drawn some focus as well. But poor old Nokia frequently get left out in the cold. Even though it did quite well in Q4 2012. That said as the accompanying graph illustrates, 2012 saw a gradual decline in the smartphone market for Nokia. Continue reading
UK retailers favour Samsung over Apple, says survey
Commission hungry sales bods reckon Korean maker’s devices are safer bet
A mystery shopper survey of UK high streets has revealed that Samsung’s smartphones are the most recommended by retailers, with BlackBerry and LG devices rarely suggested. The survey, by Informa Telecoms and Media, found that the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the Galaxy Note II were the most recommended, followed by the iPhone 5. Phones from other manufacturers such as ZTE, Motorola, LG, RIM and Nokia were rarely proffered to customers. Continue reading
Nokia slides back as Samsung surges ahead
The divide between Samsung and Nokia has become more marked, latest trading updates show, with the Korean manufacturer returning record quarterly profits while its Finnish rival has been forced into ditching its dividend payouts.
Last night Nokia shares closed 5.5 per cent down on news that it was abolishing dividends which last year cost the firm €750 million last year, around a sixth of its €4.4 billion cash reserves. Continue reading
RIM’s shares surge as ad images of new OS are leaked
BlackBerry maker RIM saw a near 14 per cent jump in its share price on Nasdaq last night [11th January 2012] after images of its much-awaited new phone platform were leaked.
RapidBerry, which focuses on BlackBerry matters, posted images of what it claims to be a series of retail advertisement mock-ups which show the OS in various states. It included shots of the BlackBerry 10 home screen and various applications. Continue reading
China ‘to overtake US’ as world’s biggest market for smartphones, says Apple CEO
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has flown to China for the second time in a year in a bid to forge new alliances and allay fears it could be losing ground to Nokia in what could soon be the world’s biggest phone market.
A month ago Apple saw $35 billion off its value as it was revealed how Nokia had agreed a deal with China Mobile, the world’s largest wireless operator with 700 million subscribers. Continue reading
Nokia shares rocket as Lumia sales yield Q4 profit
Nokia’s shares closed nearly a fifth higher in New York last night [10th January 2012] after Q4 results revealed how sales of its Lumia smartphones were selling much better than expected.
The high margin handsets, running Windows Phone software, represent an act of faith for Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop who has effectively waged the future of the Finnish manufacturer on backing Microsoft’s mobile platform. Continue reading
Smartphones have killed Jessops not online retailing
Rating: Smartphones kill the High Street camera star
In the UK we have just seen the demise of a high profile retailer in the form of Jessops. The company can best be described as having the best name on the UK High Street for selling cameras. Pundits have, of course, been repeating the same mantra – namely that the internet – be it fixed or mobile, is killing bricks & mortar retailing chains like Jessops. However, GoMobile News believes we are uniquely positioned to say that this is definitely not the case with Jessops. The company had a sound multi-channel retail strategy in place. What we firmly believe has undermined Jessops business model is the inclusion of high quality camera facilities as part of the standard specifications of any high end smartphones. Sony and Nokia are classic examples here. Continue reading
