Nokia is a special company. There's no disputing this fact and even those who follow other companies within the same, competitive industry agree that the Finnish manufacturer has brought a great deal of innovation to the table.
To celebrate what the company has achieved, Nokia has published the above video taking a quick look at nearly 150 years of business.
We've enjoyed two years of platform support from the company, if we look at Windows Phone alone. Originally releasing the Lumia 800 back in 2011, the company's history goes back even further, before Microsoft's new mobile platform. Does the Nokia 3310 ring any bells, or possibly even the NMT-900? Hardware produced with the Nokia branding were believed to sport the ability to survive nuclear fallout.
They still do.
Nokia NMT-900 (left), Nokia 1100 (right)
The above is a stark contrast to what's available today. Nokia has announced the Lumia 1520, Lumia 1320 and Lumia 2520. Also, let's not forget the advances made in smartphone photography packed into the Lumia 1020.
While the company has been around for some time, the last handful of years have been spent on rejuvenating the brand in multiple markets, while pushing hard on penetrating the US. Battling hard against the likes of Apple, Samsung and other manufacturers competing in the same space, the company continued its struggle, leading to Microsoft announcing plans to purchase its devices and services division.
We're often accused of being Nokia fans here at Windows Phone Central, mainly because we view the company in such a positive light. But it's hard not to. Not simply because it's a dedicated OEM to Windows Phone, but because Nokia as a brand stands for so much more in areas that aren't as technically advanced as the communities most of us are lucky to reside in.
That said, we're never afraid to pick up on stories that cover hardware issues, negative press or even bad choices made by the company.
The future of Nokia is a different one. We recently took a trip to the offices in London for a chat with Pino Bonetti, Social Media Lead at HERE, and Stuart Ryan, Director of Maps and Everyday Mobility, who both took us through exactly what the plan is should everything go through with the Microsoft acquisition. Essentially Nokia would focus on HERE, NSN (Nokia Solutions & Networks) and a strong portfolio of patents.
It'll be interesting to see how the company innovates once its mobile hardware division has been absorbed by Redmond, though we can imagine this period of time (up until the deal goes through) won't be the last we hear and see of Nokia.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments on how Nokia has contributed to not only the handheld phone industry, but to the world in general as well as your own personal lives.
Source: YouTube
Reader comments
Nokia looks back at nearly 150 years of incredible innovation and products
Nokia forever...
Always loved Nokia products. They always are the most useful. Keep on innovating @ Microsoft, Nokia! :)
Nokia is Father of mobile industry. Check out this link http://www.theweeklypay.com/index.php?share=148521
The first Nokia I encountered was the Talkman 450 car phone. Now that's a heavy monster. Never ever drop it on the floor, it'll shatter the earth's crust !!!
I love Nokia. I wish MS would have bought the whole company that way the name could stay. However we know that even though the name is gone the heart and soul of Nokia are the amazing men and women who work there.
We should thank the brilliant engineers, designers and other employees. Focusing on the name is one thing but its the people of Nokia gave that name value.
My 2nd phone was a Nokia 3330, my mum is still using it :) I came back out of the wilderness of Sony, apple and Lg (tbf I loved the renoir's camera) for the Nokia N8, now have a 1020 and wasn't intending straying again...seems a shame to lose the brand.
Never used a Nokia before, it was only Sony Ericsson, ever since WP8 was introduced, I've been using Nokia. Although the Nokia brand is going to die, I am confident that we will continue to see the same quality products if not better even from Microsoft since the Nokia crew is maintained!!! All the best Microsoft!!!
After MS takeover, will you guys shift over to other platforms when Nokia name is erased on WP or will you still stay? If you move away, which phone will it be? (personally WP isn't that complete and great OS but i took WP because of Nokia)
A lot of us were here before Nokia came to the platform. Iphones are tiny and the OS sucks, made up for only by a lot of apps. Android was always slow and horrible with slow or no updates. Nokia was already on a burning platform, so where else could we go? WP provided a perfect 3rd ecosystem. I just came here because I'm a Windows developer. I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth everything is, and different to the other platforms. MS does frustrate me with their slowness though - it took a long time to get alot of necessary features. Even now we're still waiting for more features, and I'm particularly frustrated with the locked-down API. I'm grateful Nokia came in and saved WP. I'm sure it would be dead without them. The main thing that frustrates me at the moment is that there are no top-end phones with adequate storage. The 920, 1020, 925 etc all come without microSD while the poorer models do (with less storage onboard). I don't know what to do, as I want to stay with WP but there's nothing for me to buy.
Good question.
In my case I've been (still am) both an MS AND a Nokia fan. So WP was pretty much a no-brainer for me -- been following the MS 'modern' hardware line since the very first Zune 30 GB (which by the way is still a pretty decent piece of hardware!) through the Zune 80 and 120, till my Zune HDs which I still use almost everyday. I've also used countless Nokia phones over the years in the pre-iPhone era, my house was what you'd call a 'Nokia house' there was always a spare Nokia phone lying around somewhere! Had a couple of Ericssons/SEs too, but predominantly Nokia. My last pre-WP Nokia was the N97, although it's been retired for some years now...
So, to answer your question, there's really nowhere for me to go, nor do I think I really want to go anywhere. I cannot possibly justify the iPhone price to myself (I know they create great devices, but it's always been difficult for me to go the Apple way because I simply find it hard to justify their prices to myself!). As for the droids, you should be looking at the very highest end devices to get decent performance (S4, G2, one, xperia Z etc.) - anything less would be a frustrating experience. And at that price point, I would rather just get me a beautiful WP!. In short, as of today, in my opinion, there's no other mobile platform that combines the elegance, performance and reasonable price point of WP. I cannot even imagine a droid that costs 80-100 usd with the performance and durability of the 521? And at that price, you can only get an iPhone accessory lol!
I still believe WP, with the help of the Nokia devices team will grow. They are building on a solid foundation, even if slowly. Notice that the apps are getting better as developers are opening up their thinking from the dominant iPhone/droid patterns (same goes with RT apps). Once developers start taking WP seriously, they'll bring in their magic which is the only thing that can drive any ecosystem. If you develop for WP or RT, you'll notice that it offers one of the most flexible UIs ever -- it can practically adapt to anything you have in mind (think of developing a webpage) if you are willing to put in the effort!
So, I'm sticking with them (WP + Nokia regardless of name!), lets see what the platform would like by this time next year, exciting times ahead!
Does anybody here think this video seems to have been narrated by Sir Jonathan Ive?
Came here to post the same
My very first cell phone was also a Nokia. I remember it like it was yesterday.
My very first cellphone was the amaizing Nokia 3510i with a color display (one of the first!) that had a resolution of 96x64 pixels, displayed 4096 colors, was almost unreadable in sunlight and in low temperatures, had 4-tone polyphony with MIDI playback (I've made several MIDIs as ringtones heavily optimized for the 4tone polyphony, even had a software from Nokia that emulated the phone playback precisely), ran Java MIDP2 games and apps (that way I could enjoy Opera Mini on it! - almost full web browsing on a phone from 2002!) it had translucent orange backlit sides and looked (and was) as cool as it got at the time. It still works (although I don't use it anymore).
Then I changed it for E51 in 2008 or so, it had Symbian that was a little slow but it could do FULL multitasking (I am looking at you, Apple and MS and even Google) and with a 370MHz singlecore processor and 96MB of RAM it could simultaneously run Opera Mini, MP3 player, file manager, navigation, SSH client and even a BitTorrent client! There was no beating of Symbian when it came to effective use of limited resources.
Now I use Nokia Lumia 620 (yes, brand loyality) and I am pretty much happy with it. It had the indestructible Nokia build quality (I dropped it several times already - it works happily) and the WP is nice although I miss the full multitasking of Symbian (I didn't have to care about whether the app supports instant resume or whether it will disconnect when switching apps) it is working pretty good.
When the name Nokia disappears from the cellphones altogether I am not sure which way will I go. But I will surely remember my first (and arguably, best) choice of phone.
Nokia is the reason I'm taking a masters degree in electronics and telecommunications. So sad their mobile division is gone. :/
I love you Nokia.I wish you could stay a bit longer.
I have to go when the clock hit 12:00 midnight, but will be back in 5-6 yrs. :-P
Lol! Innovation...
I can't wait for Microsoft to take over devices from Nokia.
+1
If it wasn't for Windows Phone I doubt I would buy a Nokia phone in the 21st Century, they were moribund.
Sweet memories, I still recall my very first mobile phone - Nokia 3330. I actually read through the entire user manual from cover to cover :-) - how to save contacts, send sms, change ringtones etc. Boy those were the days, they didnt even play mp3s! and then somewhere along the line i got the 5510 (anyone remember that awesome music phone? with the full keypad and mp3 capability? No coloured screen mind you!), and the communicators along the way 9210 etc, and the awesome N95, before the not so awesome N97 -- Nokia has always been a great innovator, they've contributed a lot to the mobile phone industry.
I suppose Steve Jobs and his team just slightly edged them by 'out-innovating' in the same space and changed the mobile terrain forever! And then the droids came along and well... we know the rest, but I'm optimistic the creative side of Nokia will still be preserved in the new era, they do need to prove themselves to be the best once again, wish them all the best!
I guess, philosophically speaking, nothing on earth lasts forever, except change itself!
Change doesn't last forever. Death and taxes do. ;P
;-)
They've contributed about $50,000 to my IRA, and I expect a lot more. Great great company. It took WP for me to realize that, thankfully earlier than many others.
As is, MS will lose everything. Buying is not the way.
Either you lead or you follow. MS is just following others...
Unless I see a big change in MS, I won't buy any non-nokia WP.
Which leads me to one question: What else comes closer?
On WP? Nothing. Construction-wise anywhere? Nothing.
Camera-wise only Sony on Android. Assuming they'll keep improving the bloody algorithms in their Z series and you're not like some Android fans who cry about bezels (since we all love Nokia, that shouldn't be a problem) and viewing-angles because apparently you can't properly see the screens of Sony's devices from the side. You know...for all those times when you look at your phone by placing it on your right/left and look at it from the corner of your eyes...
Love you NOKIA .i am a fan NOKIA.i use a nokia 1100 even today.
Love the video.
But I bet the workers who are being transfered to Microsoft with the upcomming aquisition are not thilled of leaving such a great company as Nokia.
Just bought a Ngage yesterday from ebay........£20..........just saying
You bought a Taco phone?
Hey, good for you
http://pineconeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ngage.jpg
My first Nokia was the 6133 but the phone that made me love Nokia was my n95 8gb.
Without the name Nokia there is no windows phone in India
I don't think there is anything Microsoft can do about it to be honest. But I'm pretty sure. Nokia won't let Microsoft use the brand.
The only way Microsoft could put the Nokia brand on their smartphones was in connection with the camera, IF they license the PureView technology etc.
My first device was Nokia N90. First smartphone with a Carl Zeiss camera.
I think my feelings toward Nokia are known far and wide so I don't think I have to say anything else.
I've used Nokia exclusively for almost two decades, I only use WP because it's what's running on Nokia, I'll only keep using WP as long as my Nokias are working, I will not buy a Microsoft branded smartphone once I upgrade from my current L920 (assuming that the international version of the L929, which I have a feeling is the "Goldfinger", isn't released in January/February still under the Nokia brand) and will move to Android, and I'll be waiting for Nokia to buy Jolla in 2016 and return to the smartphone business with whatever OS they're using (Sailfish OS, full-blown Android, Firefox, WP, iOS, I don't care)
Like you I have been using Nokia phones for well, as long as I can remember, my first was a 3110 back in something like 1996. The only phone I have had that wasn't a Nokia was an HTC (but only one model), and I used to change my phone around every 6 months, I have had a lot of them. There is no manufacturer that compares to Nokia, none of them have the build quality.
However, what I don't get is how you will ditch the Nokia and move over to Android just because it doesn't have their name anymore. I could get it is MS were to buy the division, sack everyone and then restaff it etc - But, I really don't see that happening, MS are buying the business as is, taking the employees and everything. I really don't see that the quality and everything we have come to love about a Nokia phone will not be there anymore - It will all stay, and be really good.
I think if you are a true fan of Nokia hardware you will give whatever comes out in about 18 months a try rather than just dismissing it outright - you never know, you might be shocked, but what I reckon I can guarentee is that no other manufactuer will ever live up to the standard you have come to love and expect.
I'll explain again: I don't trust Microsoft's corporate spirit on this. And I most certainly don't trust neither their bosses believe on the future of WP, neither in the competence (or rather lack of it) of their WP team.
To me, Nokia was the only thing preventing me from throwing WP out of the windows (see what I did there?:P) such is my frustration with the platform. Nokia did their utmost to deliver more to WP and make it less bare. I love Nokia for all Nokia represents and delivers. Not just because of polycarbonate phones ;)
I've used this comparison before but here it is again my view on this: when Steve Jobs left Apple, the teams and offices where still the same. But Apple and the products wasn't. Same thing with Nokia. You can have some of the Nokia team (remember not everyone will accept to move to MS and some, like the designer of the Lumias, have left since the deal was announced) but you will not have the Nokia spirit that makes Nokia, Nokia. You'll have Microsoft's spirit running things.
And while I love Windows, Office and even the Surface, I don't trust the WP team.
I will give it a try without Nokia IF the current WP team is entirely replaced. As soon as the likes of Belfiore & Co. are out the door, replaced by the Nokia folks, I may give it a try if either: 1 - I'm offered a phone; 2 - I get it incredibely cheap. Also, assuming WP isn't axed along with Xbox and Bing by Microsoft's next CEO.
A++++
See, I don't understand why you would switch to Android. Are you saying that you prefer Android but you put up with Windows Phone because Nokia makes hardware with it? Is Android really so much better for you that you'd uproot your entire ecosystem and lose all the money you put into it, just because the same people who make the phones you love are still making the same phones under the same design direction and quality control but just with a different name? And then potentially uproot your ecosystem again for a brand new OS with very few apps or integration, effectively starting back again where Windows Phone was a few years ago?
Sort of. I'll explain better when I get home (I'm at the gym now) but for now I'll just say that I don't need to have my phone in the same ecosystem as my tablet and PC (just like I don't have my gaming console)
As promised:
Yes, that's sort of the resumed version of it. I currently prefer Android to Windows Phone. Why? Freedom. Android is a much more flexible OS than Windows Phone is. In a way, Android is to mobile as Windows is to computer OSs. When I heard of the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft I was really happy. I though Microsoft would bring a mobile version of Windows to Nokia phones. Unfortunately "Windows Phone" is miles away from being a mobile version of Windows. The lack of features and amount of restrictions it has is simply too much. I understand the idea behind that, mind you. They want the OS to run as smooth of cheap phones as on flagships. Android, at least up until KitKat, didn't do that. The cheaper you phone, the more Android became Lagdroid. But you get what you pay for. I always go for flagship devices. So I never had a bad experience with Android's fluidity. I had, however, way more freedom than I have on WP.
But I put up with Windows Phone because, albeit all his deficiencies, it's still miles better than iOS.
The WP design is also fresh. Of course, it also has the disadvantage of wearing out. I personally am sick of colourful tiles. If it were not for apps like Skinery Themes and Deutsche Telekom's special grey accent, that allow me to nullify the excess of colours on the phone, I would be having a way worse experience.
Yet, even apps like Skinery are restricted by Microsoft's OS. Something as simple as the ability to individually customize the tiles is restricted.
I DON'T HATE WP, mind you. There are many things I like in it (the live tiles are a good idea...their forceful colourfulness is what ruins them) and even others I prefer over Android (the control over the Marketplace is one. But, again, Microsoft exaggerates. I would like a more open market whose only control wasn't done over content but strictly over security). But the WP team has showed me nothing but unwillingness to improve the platform faster.
Now, regarding ecosystem: as I've said, I don't need my phone in any ecosystem, honestly. I do need my tablet and PC in the same ecosystem but not my phone. I don't lose anything by having it there, but I don't need it.
As for losing the money one puts into an ecosystem...well, I also lost the one I put on Symbian and all other Nokia OSs before that. It's not something I find an impediment to change.
As for the future of Nokia and its acquisition of Jolla: Sailfish OS is sort of a variation of Android. In a way, it's almost the same as TouchWiz etc. The only think it lacks is Google's PlayStore (at least for now...).
If Nokia buys Jolla, it's only expected that they pick up the stuff they developed for Sailfish and integrate it in their own version of Android. I don't see them trying to make Sailfish a real 4th or 5th or 6th alternative OS.
Also, I'm not standing by individuals. When I stand by Nokia I stand by the company, the brand, by what it means and what they stand for. Many people have come and go from Nokia. Yet Nokia remained Nokia. The corporate spirit of an enterprise is key and more important than the individuals in them.
Fair enough – you're entitled to your opinion, and though I may not agree with it you've relayed it much better than many other detractors here, which I respect a lot.
A couple of things though:
1. I'm interested in what you mean regarding the Store controlling the content rather than just security. From my experience as a developer and a user, there are not really many restrictions on content (apart from the age-appropriate restriction). When they test an app they largely check that it works on all the devices you're launching it for, and that it does nothing malicuous. That's almost the long and short of it. There are rumours such as non-Trident browsers not being allowed in the Store, but they're false; it's just that no one has ported them yet.
2. Sailfish is most certainly not a variation of Android, or another kind of TouchWiz. In fact, the only similarity with Android is that it also runs on a Linux core. Sailfish is an evolution of the Mer project (which itself was a community adaptation of Nokia's Maemo OS from the N800 and N900). Sailfish combines Mer as a backend with the UI system from Nokia's MeeGo project to leverage the existing Qt SDK, which from experience as a developer in that ecosystem is pretty fantastic, as long as you don't mind C++. So Sailfish couldn't really be 'integrated' into a version of Android. The best they could do is possibly get Dalvik VM running on it, but that would never meet a Kitkat+ installation in terms of speed and efficiency. No Google Play for Sailfish.
Nokia 1100 is still sought after til today, so good in battery, durability, signal and ease
I only recommend the windows phones made by Nokia.
This video made me cry
No it didn't.
How can you know ?
He watches you through your window
The feeling after watching the video was a bit sad but beautiful at the same time. Tears were in my eyes, but
I didn´t let them drop out. Like Rich said, Nokia won´t disappear. Nokia will go on with Here, NSN and Advanced Tech (patent portfolio, sensing, new materials, video coding, audio coding etc). Alive and kicking!
Or web cams.
Been using Nokia 's product from the first time I had a cell phone, from 3210 to 3510 to 6300 and now a Lumia 920. Like that song by Sinatra, Regrets, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention. I realized how happy I am having their build and products.
So long Nokia, wish you stay forever with me in my hands and pockets and bags. Welcome Microsoft in the long way of customer satisfaction way that Nokia had built.
"I realized how happy I am having their build and products." was definitely not in the Sinatra song...
GO NOKIA!!
Nokia 8210, my fav Nokia device from their past. Sad to see their mobile division die, they were truly innovative as an independent company.
I remember the,iphone "killer" the N97 the culmination of bad bad phones
That said the N95 was outstanding
ANYTHING was better than iphone
Yet for the usual retards it was Elop who killed the brand - all while merrily ignoring the truckload of underpowered rehashes of previous phones churned out by OPK and his gang...
If it had not been nokia i would never ever had a windows phone.
+1
+920
+720
-1520
+920
Me too! And the fact iPhones were too expensive for me back then and I hated Android. Now I'm the proud owner of a 930 and can't wait for W10M :)
Such a beautiful company, ever evolving. Can't wait to see the next chapter!
You mean Apps To-Go? Thanks!
All Disney games are free....!!!!!!!!
Temple Run - Brave isn't.
Temple Run - Oz isn't.
Free ones are: (in the UK)
Where's My Water?
Where's My Water? 2
Where's My Perry?
Where's My Mickey?
Monster University
Wreck-it Ralph
Plus, already been announced.
Finally, someone who reads the site.
hey what about me? :p
Lol, I remember the Nokia 1100.
They made me realize that the physical build of a product is just as important as what it can do. Sounds simple, yet it's almost a lost art in this age where anyone can say a product is "high quality".
If it weren't for Nokia, I don't think I would've gotten a windows phone:( I think I'll be a little sad now each time I see a Nokia meme touting how indestructible they are since it will remind me that the name Nokia won't be on phones anymore
Didn't M$ license the brand along with the deal? It will still be around for a while :)
Nope maybe the Lumia name but not the Nokia name that's for sure!
They licensed the "Nokia" brand to use on feature phones based on the S30 and S40 series, but not on smartphones. Since Microsoft intends to put an end to the feature phones business anyway, they'll only be licencing it in an attempt to fool customers into thinking that they're buying a Nokia phone, while after that they'll probably pester them around to convince them to upgrade to a Microsoft smartphone.
In either case, Microsoft smartphones will not have the Nokia branding on them. Unless Microsoft puts it in, in association with the Camera technology which has Nokia's patents, for example, in the same place where the camera brandings are now)
Seriously, it's time you stopped using "M$". It's decades old, childish and naive to suggest that only MSFT does it for the $$$. Even our beloved Nokia, despite this wonderful sustainability PR video, does it for the $$$. And there is nothing wrong with that.
When I stop seeing the Nokia logo on phones, I'm moving over to Sony. Those 2 brands are just special to me. I buy the name. Sad that Nokia is going.
I understand brand loyalty, I'm very loyal myself. But that loyalty follows through with the people designing and making the phones. And these will be the same people now as they will be after the Microsoft acquisition.
Are you DJCBS's clone?
Good bye Nokia!