Symbiosis60

Since Monday of this week an interesting even has been happening in Spain. It's called MWC - Mobile World Congress...previously known as 3GSM Congress. Well after following the news for the past few days I do have to say that I am officially jaded. There has not been anything that would make me "drool" enough and make me say "I want that"

Yes... there is the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 which promises to be a true World device with 3G supporting pretty much all continents (including WCDMA 1700 (aka T-Mobile US flavor). Then there are some Google Android shots all over the web. Android is promising to be anice device but let's wait until we see the real thing hitting the market. Only then one will be able to tell if is was worth the wait. Then we have my favrite phone manufacturer; Nokia. Where do i start the bitchiness... Courtesy of WOM World I was invited to a virtual launch of new device(s) on Monday. I'm a bad boy.. I got the times screwed up and missed the virtual event (SORRY DONS). After reading about the new devices I came to the conclusion that I did not miss anything MIND blowing. True..S60 Touch was mentioned with some of the functionality and preview..running on a PC. The thing that upset me the most though is the devices that were announced which again proved that Nokia is definitely committed to fragmenting the world. I've mentioned this before numerous times but in order to have a "Connecting People" slogan as a corporate motto the company should follow it as well.

Let's look at the examples starting from the top shelf devices:
N96 - the new flagship phone which will be replacing N95. Updated design, Quad band GSM and ONLY dual band WCDMA (that's 900/2100) plus on top of that there's DVB-H for mobile TV). Now this is STRICTLY European device in my opinion. If one will choose to utilize it in North America the device will be HIGHLY overpriced brick with onyl WiFi and EDGE usable for data connection as it lacks not one but two North American 3G frequencies. Time will show if Nokia will be kind enough to release the NA version (i.e. N96-3). DVB-H could be substituted with embedded Sling player but in my opinion there will be no excuse to stuff it with at&t 3G flavor. When this device launches it better be ready to ride on T-Mobile and at&t network. The memory size is beautiful but the battery is the killer again and what's with the LED flash. Yippie...now we have TWO LED's. Nokia, how about making your signature device stand up to its name... at least 1200 mAh battery, XENON flash, Quad band GSM PLUS tri/quad WCDMA. This will be a winner. Not some device that was "pimped out" to look better than its predecessor.

Next we have a device with North American (read at&t) 3G flavour - a candybar style. Again looks like Nokia is going back to its craziness roots of funky keypads (3655, 7610 etc). This phone looks like a step up / back...Step up because it's a new device and looks almost like it's an upgrade of N82. But not so much. The camera is slapped down to 3.2 MP and Xenon flash is gone. W-T-F Nokia??? Again...why oh why?? Normal keys, Xenon, 5MP camera + US 3G and again - it's a winner. And the last time I checked USA has Two major GSM carriers...one supporting 1900/850 WCDMA and another preparing to launch on the 1700 Mhz...so this phone is a piece of junk in my opinion because obviously it's geared towards at&t crowd only. Snap out of it Nokia...T-Mobile may be smaller but we also want good devices. Don't treat us (T-Mobile subscribers) like damn bastard children. We can only be patient for so long.

Then there were two more devices - first is 6220 - again - this phone would be the device of choice for me (although I love the dual slider factor of my N95) if it wasn't for the fact that it has only dual band WCDMA in the European flavor. This device would kick ass of N82 - it has Xenon flash, GPS, WiFi, 5MP camera and the standard ffare of S60 stuff...basically it's an upgraded N82 but nicer....if it wasn't for the lack of TRUE North American 3G. Let's hope we will see this one launched with 1700/1900/850 WCDMA. One oddity is the lack of WiFi on this device
Step down and to the side of 6220 is 6210...dropping the camera resolution to 3.2 MP and looks like Xenon flash is gone too. Not much to say. In my opinion Nokia did too much of mish-mash with the devices released at the MWC. On one side extra features were added to less less interesting devices and on the other hand less interesting features were added to more interesting devices. A complete mix up. I'm deeply disappointed that Nokia is not treating the relevant markets equally. Treats North America to a "mediocre" device if one decides to compare it to the ones announced for Europe. Yes...the Yanks may be cheap, RAZR loving suckers but there's over 300,000,000 of them and I'm sure that even one-tenth would be a nice market chunk for Nokia and I know a few that would fork out over $500 for the right device. Look at iPhone sales...an obsolete EVERPRICED device and still sells like a warm biscuits for the full price. Nokia...GET A LIFE.