3 ms·

At least in the US, consumer choice is significantly limited by the carriers, so I'm not convinced that sales are very brand-driven. Even the same model might u

At least in the US, consumer choice is significantly limited by the carriers, so I'm not convinced that sales are very brand-driven. Even the same model might use completely different hardware in the US than the rest of the world. I bought my Windows Phone as an alternative to Android and iOS. The fact that it was a well-made Nokia was a certainly a bonus and an influencing factor, but I had no brand loyalty at the time. I always call it my "Windows Phone" in conversation and never mention Nokia or Microsoft, so it's possible the hardware rebranding will go unnoticed by the average consumer, as well.

sirkneeland 12y ago
I think it is interesting that there are indeed people on both sides. Some bought Lumias because they were Nokias, some bought Lumias because they were Windows Phones. Generally speaking (as a Nokia employee on the front lines) I've found that either side will deny the existence or usefulness of the the other.
dredmorbius 12y ago
Carrier lock-in is falling rapidly. T-Mobile is leading that charge, another lagging brand (say, Sprint, if it gets its act together) might go with it next. You can buy a basic phone, unlocked, no contract, for $30 from any vendor. Get a prepaid plan and you're free of contracts. Even smartphones are now well under $100. My own approach has been to ditch the smartphone (too intrusive, too much advertising, too much spyware, crap battery life), got with a basic "feature" phone (14 day standby). I'm looking for a decent tablet, though my old Android serves that role now -- access to WiFi is pretty decent, and accessing locally-stored content (music, books, and articles) is the most productive use I've got for the device. Form-factor of a tablet, plus a Bluetooth keyboard, fits the actual data uses of a phone far better than a smartphone. The feature phone is tiny, cheap, and ultimately disposable.

sirkneeland 12y ago

I think it is interesting that there are indeed people on both sides. Some bought Lumias because they were Nokias, some bought Lumias because they were Windows Phones. Generally speaking (as a Nokia employee on the front lines) I've found that either side will deny the existence or usefulness of the the other.

dredmorbius 12y ago

Carrier lock-in is falling rapidly. T-Mobile is leading that charge, another lagging brand (say, Sprint, if it gets its act together) might go with it next. You can buy a basic phone, unlocked, no contract, for $30 from any vendor. Get a prepaid plan and you're free of contracts. Even smartphones are now well under $100. My own approach has been to ditch the smartphone (too intrusive, too much advertising, too much spyware, crap battery life), got with a basic "feature" phone (14 day standby). I'm looking for a decent tablet, though my old Android serves that role now -- access to WiFi is pretty decent, and accessing locally-stored content (music, books, and articles) is the most productive use I've got for the device. Form-factor of a tablet, plus a Bluetooth keyboard, fits the actual data uses of a phone far better than a smartphone. The feature phone is tiny, cheap, and ultimately disposable.