Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) is getting out of the mobile business. It’s sad to see, but the company was not financially strong enough to keep trying. Today saw what could be the company’s final product launch as Nokia Corporation. The firm unveiled two Nokia phablets this morning, alongside a new Nokia tablet, a first for the company.
It was Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) that truly killed Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V). Nokia’s rigidity and Apple’s innovation brought about the end of the company. Apple has decided not to allow a final moment of glory. It will launch a new iPad later today, completely overshadowing the launch of the Nokia devices.
Nokia tablet launch
The Nokia Lumia 2520 is the first Windows 8 tablet from Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V). The device has a 10.1 inch screen, comes with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi and will cost $449. The device will ship with Microsoft Office and Outlook preinstalled. Following on the principles set by the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Surface, the Lumia 2520 includes a wraparound keyboard attachment.
The Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) Lumia 2520 goes one better, however. The keyboard attachment, which will cost $150, includes a trackpad and two additional USB ports. Nokia says that the device will also give the tablet an extra 5 hours of battery life. The tablet looks like a good offering from Nokia, and the device has gotten decent responses from the tech world.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is aiming its tablet offerings firmly at enterprise, and the Nokia Lumia 2520 ticks those boxes. The tablet is one of two important Windows RT devices, but it is unlikely to see massive demand, despite its qualities. With the Nokia brand likely to disappear, enterprise customers are not going to be lining up for a tablet from the company.
Nokia phablet launch
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) also took this morning as an opportunity to launch two new smartphones. The company brought out two new 6 inch phones, firmly in the realm of the phablet. The Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 come in at the higher and mid range of the market respectively. The former has a 1080p screen, while the later comes in at 720p.
Both devices will allow users to see three horizontal tile spaces on Windows Phone 8. The Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) mobile operating system is, arguably, the best one for a phablet. These are the first major Windows devices in the category, but the same problems likely to plague the company’s tablet are also likely to hit these offerings.
Nokia’s outlook
There is a bittersweet tinge to news of Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V)’s performance in recent days. The firm’s Lumia phones are finally selling at a decent rate, and it is still launching great products. The new Nokia tablet, though untested, looks like a beautiful product, and Windows Phone 8 is perhaps the best operating system to go on a phablet device.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is buying all of the Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V)’s mobile business. That means it will retain most of the designers who made these products. With Microsoft pushing the Surface, it may be unlikely that the Nokia aesthetic lasts much longer. Microsoft will want to pick a design philosophy, and that means killing off the others.
These might be the last products that follow the Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V)’s design philosophy, and that’s sad to see. The Lumia range has been incredibly beautiful. Nokia mobile is not long for this world, however. Fans of the company will want to pick up one of these devices as a tool, and a piece of memorabilia.