This is one of the most sensitive mobile topics for me - my own cellphone manufacturer. Mobile phones are very personal devices, especially for me who is making money in this industry through mobile phones and their knowledge. I am a Nokia fan, and I was always extremelly proud of it. Read my article, send it to others. Maybe Nokia could wake up… But their latest N97 was the biggest disaster in Nokia’s history.

Chapter 1 - Jan, the Nokia derranged fan

I am a huge Nokia fan. Or at least until recently I was. I am not some derranged user who is mad about phone features or customer care. For me, Nokia has been a brand I was proudly carrying for the last 10 years, since 1999. I was always proud of my new Nokia. The phones have always been the best on the market in their time.

I started on the Nokia 5110 model - it was legendary. Continued on with 3310, 7110 (the sliding one), 5510, went on to the 3510i. Then I jumped to the beautifully colorful and revolutionary phone Nokia 7650, one of Nokia’s biggest jumps ahead to competition till today. It was like the iPhone at that time. New, shiny, features and UI noone had. Then I continued to the 6600, then jumped to the N-Series train with N70, N73, and then a long-jump to the E90 Communicator. Last (and also the least loved one…), the N97. In times I also used models like 3220, 3230, 6110, 6210, 6310i, 3400. Those I usually switched quicker, because a nicer device came to the market.

In 10 years, I changed 17 Nokia phones. That’s in average 1 phone every 7 months.

They have helped and with near to perfection support and stability, with a few minor exceptions (N73, but fixed with newer firmwares).

Chapter 2 - The iPhone battles

I love the brand, and they have always been number 1 for me, until recently. We all know the coming of the iPhone was huge for the industry. Innovation arrived that was far ahead of anything other mobile companies had. Great for the industry, even better for Google’s Android. Apple showed the industry how it needs to be different, and Google is now perfectly utilizing that open doors and taking this opportunity and squeezing all they can out of it.

And still, I was a Nokia fan. With my Nokia E90, which for that year was by far the best and most stable handset. I patiently awaited the arrival of the newer generations of Nokia.

See in the mobile industry people say Nokia has mostly won because of its phones delivered best, first - before anyone else could. They are a monster in rolling out different mobile phones, and they have rolled out so many handsets that crushed many competitors entire series… Let’s talk Motorola, Siemens, etc.

Chapter 3 - The ship arrives

So I was waiting… Waiting for the next flagships, the new touchscreen devices, I passed on the 5800, as the 5 series of Nokia is not my taste, and it seemed slow and a bit wierd on usage. By then, the N97 was announced. So in Jamuary as the first person in the country I registered on the official Nokia waiting list. I was for long the first one on that waiting list and I kept coming to ask when the device will be. Typically the original “June” got to be mid-july, but thats something I got used to over time.

At first, the phone shine was great. The best camera in the history of Nokia - not only that, but the speed of taking pictures many normal digital cameras couldn’t do quicker, and the spead of preview and working with pictures was faster then on any device seen till now. (It was only later when I got to know that at night, it ruins pictures with the flash being to close, but the day pictures are great). The keyboard was also great. Nokia has always proven to deliver the hardware the person really wants. And they have delivered some great hardware.

But the software…. Crashes, hard resets, hard resets, giving the handset back 3 times - I have oficially the 3rd Nokia N97 and probably the 20th firmware. See the older firmware is probably more stable then the new one, but the update always pushes you for the new one, and as I didn’t know that fact - I of course always upgraded, as I thought the mistake would have been fixed.

Beginning next week, I am returning the phone and will ask for a full re-fund. They give it to the “N97″ people. And in the Nokia store - they told me I would not be the first to return the handset… When I asked how many, he said: Well when people have 3 - 4 new N97 devices and they still break, they usually return them and we refund them.

What was supposed to be a flagship of Nokia seems to be the biggest disaster in the history of Nokia.

Chapter 4 - Is their time over?

Is Nokia’s time over? Since their is no alternative whatsoever the the Nokia N97, and no new handsets in my category seem to be out there, I have absolutely no choice but switching platforms. This leads me to one thought - if a fan like myself am switching to other platforms, will there still be space for Nokia smartphone users, or will they lose it all to Android, iPhone, and other competitors?

I know it will be painful, but the Motorola Droid (or aka the GSM verison is called “Milestone”) seems to have what I am looking for. It’s too early to judge, and I don’t have early judgement in my blood. I will keep you posted on my way with this new phone. I hope we will get along well.

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Tags: goodbye Nokia, goodbye Nokia N97, nokia fail, Nokia N97 failure