I’m always banging on about it, but brand is a major fact when people are buying a phone. Buy an iPhone and the Apple logo on the back is part of what you’re after.
Say “Nokia” to someone and, unfortunately, a lot of people will think of something like this..
So, now that the assimilation of Nokia is complete, Microsoft is beginning the gradual tune-out of the Nokia brand according to documentation revealed by Geeks On Gadgets. The confidential internal document proves the removal of “Nokia” and there’s also news that the Lumia 830 and Lumia 730 will be the final devices bearing the Nokia name. After that it’ll be Microsoft Lumia, and Nokia will start to become just a hazy memory.
It also looks like “Windows Phone” will instead alter to just the term “Windows”, so buyers will effectively see a Microsoft Lumia device powered by Windows.
It’s difficult to define my feelings on this. At one time, Nokia seemed undefeatable. Everyone had a Nokia in their pocket or knew someone that did. From the “brick” phones with the pull-out aerials, to snake, to the rock-solid Nokia 6210 and beyond. Even as Android and iPhone handsets exploded onto the scene, some people would still buy Nokia featurephones because they were reliable, well-built and usually had a battery that lasted a week.
Now though, is there anyone left that really cares? Those that previously bought Nokia featurephones have probably now moved to cheaper Android smartphones, the iPhone 5c or perhaps a cheap Lumia device. The Nokia brand has diminished. Whether it’s any stronger or more respected than the “Microsoft” or new “Lumia” branding is the big question.
Microsoft are beginning the stitching-up of their OS offerings. The tablet, the desktop, the laptop, the phone – all powered by Windows – all looking pretty similar. Will you be assimilated too?