Nokia unveils Ovi to compete with Apple

In this article, Nokia’s President and CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo states:

“We started this journey with our navigation services earlier this year and we are now combining all our services into a single branded offering - Ovi by Nokia. Over the coming 12 months, you will see us integrate new user interface elements, service suites and web communities to Ovi.”

In other words, Apple showed us what the new business model was and we found our direction.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Nokia, use their phone. I just find it gratifying to see the competitors’ previous comments minimizing the effect that the iPhone could have, be completely erased from the conversation.
In February 3rd, 2007 Kallasvuo said the following:

“I don’t think that what we have seen so far (from Apple) is something that would any way necessitate us changing our thinking when it comes to openness, our software and business approach. But the fact that Apple is entering the market, in general, I think will stimulate this market, it’s very clear. I think it will be good for the industry and I very much welcome that.”

Overall I think it was a very smart outlook on an unknown quantity but it betrays the fact that the last thing he expected was to be launching an Apple iPhone+iTunes modelled services suite. I think the last thing on his mind was that Apple was going to tell Nokia anything about the mobile market. I don’t expect him to admit the extent to which Apple affected Nokia’s strategy, nevertheless their new touch screen phone is a testament to the magnitude of Apple’s vision.

I love it.

On a final note, I think that most people do not seem to realize is that what they are competing against is not a device, but an OS. OS X is the game changer here, and the ecosystem that goes along with it. I really want Apple to release a superbly documented SDK. If they do it, the market will change forever. After all the iPhone is not really a phone, as I see it, its an Apple Personal Computer with a phone app.