I'm not sure a whole new direction is feasible for Nokia at this point, given the huge commitment they've made to Windows Phone. They do need to produce some more devices at attractive price points though - and fast.
This bet by Nokia was the wrong one - Microsoft loses next to nothing if Windows Phone doesn't take off - they still make most of their money on Windows/Office. Nokia loses everything if Microsoft decides to get out because they aren't making any headway vs. iOS and Android.
They will sell 10 million Lumia units in Q4 of 2012. As Woz has pointed out, the UI is out of this world. Just got my Lumia last week and have been an Android user since the G1(also own two other newer models), iPhone user since the 3Gs. The superiority of the experience cannot be overstated.
It took the iPhone seven quarters to pass the ten million mark. Lumia will do it in four. Just look at how fast Android left iPhone in the dust after that.
Things change fast in the smartphone market. This analyst is looking backwards - wrong direction.
Nokia seemed almost invicible just a few years ago, with like 40% of the world market. Before them there were other cell phone giants, although none as dominant; Ericsson, Motorola... Remember Palmpilot?
Funny how noone makes the connection to Apple. If we can learn anything from the history of consumer electronics, it is that brands come and go, and in the end the asians take over. Is there something magic about Apple which makes them immune to competition and fashion? I think not.
All markets and companies go through it. Probably the best to ride it all out is GE and even they have had their struggles. Let me name some other companies that have looked unbeatable:
Microsoft
IBM
Xerox
General Motors
Lucent
AT&T (the old one)
Kodak
There is the problem of market disruption and it is the place where analysis fails. Analysis is prediction based on data. Disruption makes the old data irrelevant. Disruption is for vision based in data, but at some level is is belief or faith based. Tech markets tend to face disruption more often, but situations change in all industries.
I hate the UI. There is no UI that is great for every use and every person.
10 million units will be about all Nokia will sell for an entire year. When Nokia started to sell WP handsets, sales slightly increased but the majority of their sales came at the expense of HTC and Sumsung and their WP offerings.
Why would I trust what Woz has to say?
The analyst is just stating the reality of it all. MeeGo outsold ALL of WP7 sales in Q3 2011. Have you used MeeGo or even Belle?
One of Kodak's problems is they are saddled with old school pension obligations. That and the issue of foreign cash that they'd be stupid to bring into the US.
Not to mention the BIG one that they missed the market transition to digital DUH.
Doesn't Microsoft make more money on Android from licensing than it does its own smartphones? Maybe that strategy will work for Nokia too!