Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Nokia can't stop talking - even when there’s nothing to say

Mark Bridge writes:

I still have my Nokia 2110. When the world is taken over by cockroaches and the MRSA bug, my Nokia 2110 will still be in working order. The MRSA-infected cockroaches will probably use it to build their own cellular network.

I loved the Nokia Communicator. It was a real game-changer, a device that paved the way for today’s smartphones.

I went to the press conference at Mobile World Congress where I was wowed by the Nokia 808 PureView, a phone that’ll take 38-megapixel photos. Never mind clever lenses, this baby can almost zoom in to an atomic level.

I enjoy hearing from that Nokia. The Nokia of innovation.

But there’s another Nokia. Dull Nokia. Corporate Nokia. Gauche Nokia. The Nokia that sent me this week’s press release.

With a little help from Microsoft it’s now starting to catch up with Android and Apple devices. Or, to quote the headline, “Nokia Lumia drives further ecosystem momentum with new app partnerships announced at CTIA”.

Excuse me for a moment while I recover from being underwhelmed.

What are those “new partnerships and app updates across key consumer verticals”, you ask?

A PGA app, already out on iOS and Android. It’s coming to Nokia Lumia smartphones at the end of June.

ESPN. Already available on iOS and Android.

Angry Birds. Already available just about everywhere else, from theme parks to t-shirts. Now coming to Windows Phone.

Groupon. PayPal. AOL entertainment. All on their way.

Now, I know that Nokia’s Lumia smartphones have only been available for the last six months.

But there’s really no need to say this stuff. All it’s doing is emphasising its competitors’ lead. “You know all those cool apps that are already available elsewhere?  Well, we’re going to get them soon as well”.

And then yesterday I saw John Pope engaging Tomi Ahonen on Twitter. Tomi, in case you didn’t know, is an author and consultant who’s often critical of Nokia. John is Nokia’s Director of Communications. John took issue with Tomi’s description of Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as having “admitted” a number of issues.

Now, I’m no social media expert - but I’d say this is another of those times that “the better part of valour is discretion”, to quote Shakespeare.

I want to hear more from Nokia. But when Nokia doesn’t have anything much to say, it needs to keep quiet.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Monitoring road quality with a standard smartphone and the Roadroid app

Resurfacing repairs required? There's an app...

Mark Bridge writes:

In the past five years, what started as an advertising message - “there’s an app for that” - has become a challenge to developers. It’s become part of 21st century culture. And it’s become an totem for journalists to pin their most outrageous app-based stories to.

Roadroid doesn’t need the attention-grabbing headlines.

Author: The Fonecast
2 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Product review: Nomad ChargeCard and Nomad ChargeKey

Connect and charge your smartphone on the move

Mark Bridge writes:

What would you say to a tiny little device that enabled you to recharge your smartphone almost anywhere, whenever you wanted?

This is pretty much what a US-based company called Nomad is promising. In fact, they sent me two of their latest products to try.

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Big announcements from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and LG

Podcast transcription - 4th June 2014

Mark Bridge writes:

Every week we produce a half-hour podcast that covers all the biggest news headlines for the UK mobile phone industry.

Thanks to a special offer from Scribie.com, we can also offer a transcription of last week’s programme.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Last week at The Fonecast: 9th June 2014

Apple prepares for the future

Mark Bridge writes:

Apple kicked off its 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last week with an announcement about the forthcoming iOS 8 operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. There was some catching up, some innovation and a couple of new services designed to work with home automation and health/fitness devices. What’s Tim Cook’s plan? We’ll have to wait and see.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Using Bitcoin on a mobile phone: it's much easier than I expected

Mark Bridge writes:

Bitcoin, as Wikipedia tells me, is a peer-to-peer payment system introduced as open-source software in 2009. It’s a ‘virtual currency’ that can be used for transferring money and for buying products or services, although only if your chosen retailer accepts Bitcoin.

Author: The Fonecast
2 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
123578910Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
123578910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«June 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2627282930311
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30123456

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement