We have two platforms: Lumia and Windows Phone

[brmiller1976]

For Lumia to succeed, Windows Phone has to succeed. But if Lumia is too successful, Windows Phone dies (since Lumia is about app and carrier exclusives that eliminate the broader appeal of Windows Phone as a platform to OEMs, consumers and non-exclusive carriers).

What do you think?

 

[rdubmu]

Editorial: Will carrier exclusive devices and Lumia-only apps be detrimental to the Windows Phone platform? | WMPoweruser

 

[vp710]

I won't repeat what's been said in the comment section of that page, but there are a lot of good points / rebuttal to that article.

 

[brmiller1976]

I can imagine a conversation going something like this.

Imagine a customer in a T-Mobile store.

"I want this EA game."

Well, it's available on these devices.

"Well, it is upgrade time for me. How about this HTC Windows Phone 8X?"

Great choice, but the game won't run on that device right now.

"But I thought you said there was a WP version?"

Yes, but it's exclusive to Nokia WP devices. I can sell you this low-resolution 810...

"No, I want a high end phone."

Well, the EA game is also available for this awesome Android handset here. Let me tell you about it...

*closes sale for an Android phone*

 

[Gaichuke]

I can imagine a conversation going something like this.

Imagine a customer in a T-Mobile store.

"I want this EA game."

Well, it's available on these devices.

"Well, it is upgrade time for me. How about this HTC Windows Phone 8X?"

Great choice, but the game won't run on that device right now.

"But I thought you said there was a WP version?"

Yes, but it's exclusive to Nokia WP devices. I can sell you this low-resolution 810...

"No, I want a high end phone."

Well, the EA game is also available for this awesome Android handset here. Let me tell you about it...

*closes sale for an Android phone*

That's a pretty far-fetched scenario. Anyone who bases their platform decision on a single game title is not exactly capable of doing smart choices and should not be expected to do one.

Where WP platform is now, it's more important to give manufacturers options to differentiate to keep them interested on investing on WP. Instead of blaming Nokia, why aren't you blaming HTC, Samsung and Huawei for not stepping up and offering more?

 

[brmiller1976]

That's a pretty far-fetched scenario.

Actually, it's the direct result of the business plan for Nokia "exclusive" apps, right? People are supposed to be buying more Nokias to get those exclusives.

Instead of blaming Nokia, why aren't you blaming HTC, Samsung and Huawei for not stepping up and offering more?

If HTC was cornering the market on apps and saying "these are HTC apps and not Windows Phone apps," I'd have the same concern.

 

[Gaichuke]

Actually, it's the direct result of the business plan for Nokia "exclusive" apps, right? People are supposed to be buying more Nokias to get those exclusives.

Nokia exclusive apps are there to persuade WP8 customers to choose Nokia WP8 over other manufacturers models and to me that's a sound business decision.

My point was that anyone who'll skip WP8 altogether because they can't have a particular app on their WP8 device of choice are too volatile (and few) customers to focus on.

 

[brmiller1976]

Nokia exclusive apps are there to persuade WP8 customers to choose Nokia WP8 over other manufacturers models and to me that's a sound business decision.

My point was that anyone who'll skip WP8 altogether because they can't have a particular app on their WP8 device of choice are too volatile (and few) customers to focus on.

But that's the whole point of apps. If you cannot get the ones you want, you'll get something else. And if key apps on WP are Nokia exclusives, people will choose Android or iOS if they cannot get a competitive Nokia device on their carrier.

 

[Gaichuke]

But that's the whole point of apps. If you cannot get the ones you want, you'll get something else. And if key apps on WP are Nokia exclusives, people will choose Android or iOS if they cannot get a competitive Nokia device on their carrier.

Your argument is that people will choose Android or iOS if they can't get certain app on their WP8 device.

My argument is that the majority of people won't consider a few missing applications as a deal breaker. The way they perceive the platform functionality and the device itself is a much more important factor than the app selection.

EDIT. Just in case of possible strawman argument about app selection:

100,000 apps of WP8 vs. 600,000 apps of Android = important factor in device selection
100,000 apps of WP8 vs. 100,040 apps of Lumia = insignificant factor in device selection

 

[AngryNil]

Do you think Microsoft properly disapproves of Nokia's strategy? Microsoft has always pitched software differentiation for Windows Phones, since the beginning. The fact that Lumia has become a platform is testament to how poorly the other manufacturers have done in creating a unified brand for their Windows Phones and differentiating them.

 

[snowmutt]

What else that bothers me about a "Nokia Exclusives will bring down WP8" debates is the inherent advantages HTC, Samsung, and other Android makers have: They already have a small ecosystem for their Android devices. They KNOW how to do this. They sell GS3 or HTC 1X exclusives on those handsets.

Yes, it is an investment to do that on WP8. Maybe a good portion of the exclusives may not translate well from open-source Android to WP8. But are they in it to cash in on the Windows universe or not? I am willing a lot of the exclusives and built in infrastructure they have for Android would translate, and then developing for WP8 also moves over to Windows RT, Windows Pro, and Windows 8.

Nokia is trying to survive. If in a worse case scenario they are the sole survivor in the WP8 world (which I do not believe but admit it is possible) due to their dedication to their devices, then fine. It will not be their fault, it will be the fault of those who failed.

 

[a5cent]

This thread makes me feel schizophrenic, as I find myself agreeing with Miller and also with everyone else... which shouldn't be possible

I think Miller is correct, but only if we ignore time. Nokia's strategy isn't set in stone. Once Nokia achieves critical mass in mind- and marketshare, Nokia will no longer require the kind of support from carriers that they currently do. After having achieved that (I'm optimistic), Nokia can shift to distributing their devices just as broadly across all carriers, after which the premise of the argument no longer holds:

If Lumia is too successful, Windows Phone dies (since Lumia is about app and carrier exclusives that eliminate the broader appeal of Windows Phone as a platform to OEMs, consumers and non-exclusive carriers)

Edit: Agreeing only with view towards carrier exclusives, not app exclusives.

 

[cgk]

Aren't we putting the chicken before the egg? Once Nokia manages to sell lumia phones in the range of millions that actually matter we have something to talk about.

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express

 

[Coreldan]

The app exclusivity is a globally viable argument, but lets remember that Europe (dont know about Asia) sports far less of any of this exclusive carrier crap.

@Gaichuke, I'd agree that 40 usual apps would have no impact on what one would select, however when those 40 are some very important ones, for example Nokia Drive or whatever with the turn by turn navigation. It is simply one of the best smartphone navigators available and for free on a Nokia device. For many people, that will do far more in the selection than the extra 100k fart apps iOS and Android has

 

[SnailUK]

Nokia have already proven that putting some effort into WP7 actually started to get reasonable levels of sales, especially in Europe.

If HTC, Samsung, etc see that decent apps, and decent handsets help Nokia get huge sales on WP8, then i would hope they'll actually get off their bottoms, and start putting some energy into WP8.

I hope that the sales figures go Nokia > HTC > Samsung, as that reflects the amount of effort the OEMs seem to have put into WP8.

 

[cgk]

Nokia have already proven that putting some effort into WP7 actually started to get reasonable levels of sales, especially in Europe.
.

Their last results do not support that idea, the amounts they are having to spend are not in line with level of sales. Nokia will go under if it has to keep burning cash at the current rate in order to make an impact.

 

[kenzibit]

Editorial: Will carrier exclusive devices and Lumia-only apps be detrimental to the Windows Phone platform? | WMPoweruser

I 100% agree and I've been saying this here in the forums....but you have to know the Lumia fanboys will disagree totally. One has to open the eyes to say this coming, and I know it's coming until something is done about it.

 

[kenzibit]

I can imagine a conversation going something like this.

Imagine a customer in a T-Mobile store.

"I want this EA game."

Well, it's available on these devices.

"Well, it is upgrade time for me. How about this HTC Windows Phone 8X?"

Great choice, but the game won't run on that device right now.

"But I thought you said there was a WP version?"

Yes, but it's exclusive to Nokia WP devices. I can sell you this low-resolution 810...

"No, I want a high end phone."

Well, the EA game is also available for this awesome Android handset here. Let me tell you about it...

*closes sale for an Android phone*

Just PERFECT and it's very true cuz it happened to a colleague....he bought the HTC One X (Android) at the end of the day.... WP lost a customer because of Nokia app exclusivity...SMH :-(

 

[Coreldan]

Their last results do not support that idea, the amounts they are having to spend are not in line with level of sales. Nokia will go under if it has to keep burning cash at the current rate in order to make an impact.

But there are also "external" reasons for that. Mainly that the legacy WPs will not be getting WP8. That has been known for a long time now, which has certainly had an effect on sales. I dont see how could one even expect "on par" sales for WP7 with that info out there.

 

[jabtano]

Do you think Microsoft properly disapproves of Nokia's strategy? Microsoft has always pitched software differentiation for Windows Phones, since the beginning. The fact that Lumia has become a platform is testament to how poorly the other manufacturers have done in creating a unified brand for their Windows Phones and differentiating them.

Goor point and if you look at Microsoft they have done the Surface tablet why? one to show others this is the way to do it and how they would like it to be. Two Microsoft wants to make money. Second they are making a mobile device why? not to show how it's done I think Lumia line has done that but to make money. I have this feeling Win9 WP9 will be the same OS flat out.....