Where Are The 4 Digits S60?
Ever since I started the N95 8GB Lebanon Ambassador mission, I have been hammered by those same people to whom I demonstrated the power of the flagship handset. The fact that Nokia had sent me a trial device made me the first got-to person for a lot of friends, neighbors, classmates, family members, when it comes to purchasing a new device. I now get a “what device do you recommend me to get?” question at least 3 or 5 times a week. Although I have memorized the different options by heart, I stand in silence and can never come up with any other answer than “6120″. Of course, I throw a little bit of “N73″ from time to time, but most people think it’s bulky, so most of the time, I avoid it and go 6120 all-the-way.
Why? One, I want to introduce these average consumers to the power of S60 3rd edition, without giving them something too complicated that would make them run away. Two, they are not planning on paying more than 300$ for a mobile device (unlocked of course, we don’t have operator offers here). Three, they want something slim, good looking, not too old and that wouldn’t draw extra attention.
Now let’s review my options here in regards to these 3 incontestable musts, and eliminate the chunky handsets, focus on the usable and see what remains. Hm, ok so there’s the 6120, the E51 and E65, the N73 and the N76. Why do I always go for the 6120 when people ask me for my advice? Because it’s one of the most powerful and most good-looking handset amongst the 5 options, and I have come to see that everyone just loves it. 3 of my friends have purchased a 6120 and none of them is complaining.
But let’s dwell for a second on the thought that there are only 5 possible answers to that question. That’s about it! 5 devices in the whole catalog of S60 3rd devices that fit the large chunk of probably 70% of the population and market! 5 devices! Of course, the recently announced 6220 and 6124 should compliment that in the future, but right now, there’s only 5 devices. I don’t know if I should be disturbed or disgusted.
I wonder where have the 4-digit S60 3rd Edition devices gone? Back in the sans-Nseries days, Nokia was releasing a bunch of devices, all 4-digits named, and there was a little bit for everyone. There were different form factors, different layouts, different looks, so that each user could express his own style. Now, Nseries get all the attention, Eseries have the enterprise stardom, and 4-digit devices are almost like the leftovers that you throw to the dog. Let’s count the number of S60 3rd handsets in each category (including the newly announced ones, and excluding the variations of the same handset). We have 14 Nseries, 8 Eseries, and 9 4-digits. Thinking that we’re bound to see some fresh air in the Eseries line in the near future, this leaves the 4-digiters as the last category. Basically it’s as if Nokia is telling you “you’re either a multimedia junkie, either a corporate addict, either forgotten”.
The way I see it is that Nokia are using this Nseries branding, and probably overusing it to market their devices. Look at the N71, N72, N76, N77, N81. They could have all gone in the 4-digit category, they had nothing so special and groundbreaking to tout them as multimedia computers : in what aspects is the N76 better than a 6120? None to my knowledge. That would have freed up some space in the Nseries naming scheme for more devices that could bring better functionality.
I also think that Nokia is investing a lot in Nseries and Eseries, forgetting the average consumer, and giving him some not very well-thought handsets that look like a fashion crime and offer minimal functionality. N-gage and Nokia Music Store (maybe Ovi later?) are two services limited to Nseries so far, although there’s nothing (also to my knowledge) that would prevent them from running smoothly on a 4-digit S60 3rd edition device.
It’s about time they start focusing back on average Joe, because if he bought a 6120 today, he will come back to me in a year saying “i want to upgrade, what are my options?”. If he broke his wallet and got an n82 today, he might not even come back after 2 years. Put the numbers together, and you get approximatively the same money figure over 2 years. There will always be two categories of average Joe and each will go for a different option, but I am willing to bet that those who go for the first choice are the biggest category because no normal mobile user is willing to pay around 500$ in a blink.
What are your thoughts about this? Do you believe that Nokia should go back to its roots and give a little bit more attention to the 4-digit devices, and leave Nseries for real flagships? And have you ever been in a situation where someone asked you for advice when it comes to buying a new handset? What were his needs and what was your solution?
[Edit: Bonus Link: Stefan has posted stats about Nokia losing its appeal in the teenage market. Is it just me or do the needs of the teenagers resemble the answer to the 3 requirements stated above and that I see in my surroundings? Another proof that Nokia neglecting the middle market is a bad bad move]
The 6220 Classic and 6210 Navigator were announced at the Mobile World Congress and they should be fantastic for the mass market. I think the reason you don’t see many 4 digit S60 devices is because S60 still needs fairly high end hardware, compared to devices running S40, to run.
With time technology, as it always does, will get cheaper and with that I think we’re going to see more devices that fit the description you’ve just described. Remember, the smartphone market is still very very very, let me repeat, very small.
We’re only at the beginning.
While I agree that some of my favorite Series 60 phones have been the four digit variety, I think as long as Nokia continues to produce S40 devices and as you said lumps many devices into the “N” series bracket, there is not a big market for the 6620’s and 6120’s anymore.
I’m not all that familiar with the 6120 (although I will now…), why choose that as a recommend over an N73?
Hm… what about the 5700? I see you aren’t mentioning it, and that’s the first device I recommend to everyone asking me which “low-profile” Symbian device to buy. I’ve had one for months, and I’m pretty happy with it, and don’t consider buying any of the “Nseries beasts”, at least none from the current offer, my next phone change will probably come when TouchUI goes out. The price of 5700 here in Serbia is almost the same as the price of 6120, and I believe 5700 is a better device. Why? Because it has absolutely all hardware specs same as the 6120, same software platform, but better music options, as it belongs to the XpressMusic series, plus the swivel keyboard is absolutely fantastic! So, consider recommending a 5700 next time someone asks ;).
Nice thoughts. I think Nokia should keep an eye to the teenagers and puplish more devices for the bulks and not just for tech-freaks like us
Many people still ask me which device they should buy and all from Nseries were to expensive for them and on rare occasions I propose another producer e.g. SE, because they also have a very simple menu and everybody understands it!
My mum was just in the situation with a new device, I told her to buy the 6300, this is one of my favs in this price category!
@X3mE: I hate the look of the XpressMusic phones
I think the 6220 classic will be the new successor of all those 4 digit devices!
Apr 28th, 2008 at 6:14 am
[...] software, that is the first and biggest challenge. The second one is mid-range S60 devices, and I’ve already voiced my thoughts about it. The third one is marketing, and the fourth is whether or not they should go for an ultimate [...]