Nokia's financial results were announced this morning and make for pretty tough reading if you're a long time lover of the Finnish phone maker. Its Lumia handsets sold only 2.9m units, down significantly from the 4m it sold the previous quarter. By comparison, Apple sold over 5m iPhone 5s in its first weekend alone.
The company also made a loss of $755m, which might seem like a massive amount but is a smaller loss than in the previous quarters. Even so, CEO Stephen Elop described it as "a difficult quarter" and explained that the transition from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8, which launches later this month, has made things "tough".
Given that Microsoft effectively stuck two fingers up to current Lumia owners by not offering updates from the Windows Phone 7 operating system to version 8, it's unsurprising that sales have taken such a steep dive.
Speaking of dead software, a representative from Nokia developer support has said that Symbian is now in "maintenance mode" meaning there will be no more feature updates.
But with Windows Phone 8 about to launch on Nokia's new Lumia 920 and 820 handsets, there will soon be a new reason to be excited about Nokia's products. Whether the mobiles -- and, indeed, Windows Phone itself -- offer enough to challenge the goliaths of Apple and Android remains to be seen.
What do you think to Nokia's results? Are you surprised at the sales of the Lumia and are you excited for Nokia's future with Windows Phone 8? Let me know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.
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Comments 15
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shauney3 18 October, 2012 13:17
I'm sure it will pick up with Windows 8.
anonymous 18 October, 2012 13:57
What do I "think to Nokia's results?" I think you need a grammar lesson
CaptainPicard 18 October, 2012 15:04
I really like the new Lumia range and it will take off because of Windows 8 and Android apps, which are gonna be available on Win8 phones, but this could be a disaster for Nokia if they price the 920 above £450, which is roughly the price of the S3.
anonymous 18 October, 2012 15:58
The only thing nokia has going for it is the quality of the hardware and design used in their phones. Using aluminuim cases exonon flashbulbs and high spec lenses and camera. Their hardware is something to be envied alright but the os is friendly with nothing noone wants to support it if you buy one like any expensive camera when it needs fixing or updating it is already obsolete. Android and osx dont leave their users behind when it comes to new software iterations. If nokia made a 400 euro smartphone that ran android with the carl zeiss lens and a 12+mp camera with a powerful processor finished with a metal casing and super amoled screen with gorilla glass i would ditch samsung and return to nokia... but they can't or won't. They have nobody to blame but themselves. When they go into bankrucpty the whole sad story should be documented for other mobile producers on how not to run a business.
anonymous 18 October, 2012 16:16
Stephen Elop (Covert of Microsoft) is killing Nokia and its image.
CSBM 18 October, 2012 18:22
Hardly surprising. Nokia did essentially poison Windows 7.5. I have recommended it to some people still because it is still an ok OS and it is perfectly adequate for so many uses and given the current prices they are offering the Lumia 800 at it is an absolute steal. Nobody wants to accept an unknown quantity and when the future of 7.5/7.8 is so unsure it is obvious that people would be reluctant to take it. There are so many worse choices out there that are still selling so much better. Things will be very different after the next version starts selling. Most of those buyers who are not apparent in those figures are missing because they are waiting for the new OS launch. You will therefore see all the buyers that Nokia would have got anyway, plus those who have waited.
anonymous 18 October, 2012 19:59
i miss the technology of the early 2000's.back then,we didn't have all this stupid angry birds or drag racer.we had snake and i forgot the other one.nokia was top because of their quality and know what customers want.i always took my mom's nokia out of her back just to play snake. if nokia switches to android and give customers what they want,i think they will get their fans back.
John Lee Griffin 18 October, 2012 20:38
I have read that nokia phone 7.5 users will be getting an update to windows 7.8 which will have some of the funtionailty of WP8
Mark Anderson 18 October, 2012 22:20
Switch to Android, make a gorgeous phone... and then watch as no-one buys it. Just like HTC did with the One X.
Android isn't a solution for anyone other than Samsung.
anonymous 18 October, 2012 22:47
Mark Anderson- almost an anagram of samsung sheep by the looks of it:) But seriously, and as this is to do with Nokia, I like the look of the new Nokia and windows 8,and it will probably be my next phone- my S3 is feeling like it's getting a bit long in the teeth and it seems like everyone's got samsung or iphones - boring!
CaptainPicard 18 October, 2012 22:50
What was that space game on old Nokia phones?? I remember being addicted to it and even finished it several times, but cant remember its name. And is it available online?
Mark Anderson 19 October, 2012 09:19
@anonymous
Only if you're dyslexic. My point is that Android has only been a good solution for Samsung. There was no guarantee for Nokia so going with Android would have been a bad move.
Guess you missed that bit, huh?
anonymous 19 October, 2012 10:40
for Nokia to do really well, they have to have a better pricing strategy.
I recently checked out the range of phones and I am impressed.
I currently have an S3 which is pretty close to perfect, and the only phones that come close are the nokias. If nokia want to regian market share they have to create a better pricing point, you cannot expect customers to buy the phone at a £450 price, when Samsung (A giant in smartphones) is pricing the S3 at a similar point.
Once people have a reason to buy into nokia they can then increase the price.
I remember the my first android phone (HTC hero) was cheap, I got onto an orange contract for £15Pm with a decent allowance and the phone was free.
That phone got me into android and its why I paid soo much for my S3 when it came out.
anonymous 19 October, 2012 22:58
HTC One X didn't sell? crawl back under your stone Mark Anderson, you pr**k.
anonymous 23 October, 2012 11:40
Never WINDOWS on NOKIA. GOOD BYE NOKIA without SYMBIAN I WILL NEVER BUY NOKIA with WINDOWS even 8 9 10... never!!!!