Nokia’s E7 smartphone will miss its intended Christmas launch because Nokia isn’t happy with the user experience. The company under Stephen Elop is clearly bristling to strike out at competitors like Apple and Android device makers like Samsung.
Last week, Nokia revealed it is looking to revamp the mobile user interface in 2011 and will launch devices based on this with Meego for 2011. Speaking at the LeWeb conference in Paris, Marko Ahtisaari, director of design strategy at Nokia, said he wanted to give phone users a “heads up” experience again. Ahtisaari praised the iPhone’s interface as “beautifully elegant” and easy to use, with its single-button and touchscreen functionality.
However, it has emerged that the company has taken the decision to delay its expected E7 high-end mobile device which was due out before Christmas in order to ensure a good user experience and help to win back ground in the mobile device market.
It is clear that new CEO Stephen Elop is making his presence felt at Nokia and there’s a clear desire to ensure that devices win in the market based on their own merit.
Anxious investors
The E7, which comes with a 4-inch touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, will cost an estimated €495.
The delay may infuriate investors who were hoping to see the company enjoy strong Christmas sales, but it is clear Elop is taking a more strategic view.
Investors may also be a little anxious following the revelation that power faults have dogged the launch of Nokia’s breakthrough N8 smartphone device. The company said a small number of devices had been affected by switching on problems.
