One of the biggest difficulties Nokia has in the United States is actually getting consumers to purchase phones. Since Nokia has trouble with the carriers, it offers most of its phones in the U.S. ‘unlocked’, which means the phone is not subsidized by the carrier, and has no carrier molestation branding. Unfortunately, American consumers haven’t a clue what an ‘unlocked’ phone really means, and usually believe that their only options for phones are those offered directly from the carrier.
Nokia supposedly began an ‘unlocked’ campaign a few years ago, inviting a bunch of folks to a swanky mansion in Los Angeles, and even having a few banners here and there. Unfortunately, they did not follow this up with any television advertisements or anything else that might be visible to the general public. Recently, ZomgitsCJ stumbled upon this video, helpfully explaining what an unlocked phone is, and some of the benefits of purchasing such a device.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the newest videos before they go live on the blog!
While I’m glad to see this video online, I’m completely embarrassed for Nokia on a few points. For one, why is this video only just now surfacing? Where was it when consumers were just learning about GSM, which brought the magic of SIM cards? Why is it just on YouTube, and not being shown on regular television, or even played on the radio?
It goes back to the age-old problem that Nokia has in the U.S. -- they simply don’t reach out to consumers. So, consumers don’t know about unlocked phones, and Nokia seems to have trouble getting the major carriers to carry any smartphones (although that’s starting to change at AT&T, apparently). To most consumers in the United States, Nokia only makes free featurephones -- they haven’t a clue that Nokia is capable of producing such fantastic communication solutions as the E71 and N79.
In any case, great video, Nokia. Too bad it was found 5 years too late.
