Nokia morphs itself from within
Very interesting article on the BBC news site on how Nokia is transforming itself from a device manufacturer into a software and services company that monetises its software know-how through selling devices, and the strategic role that research plays in this endeavour. Some UX related quotes:
Dr John Shen, head of the Palo Alto Research lab, said his team was helping Nokia’s development as a services company.
“We see the intersecting of the internet and mobility. Nokia has been a device company and that will remain a lucrative business for years to come, but instead of waiting until we have to change, Nokia is looking ahead and making changes now.”
He said the focus for the firm was a “total solution”, encompassing hardware and software, but focusing on a “compelling user experience”.
“The company that understands the end user experience is going to have an edge,” he added. […]
Dr Shen added: “When technology is below the user requirement, technology drives the industry.
“But once you cross over to the mainstream then you have to look at services and the user experience.
“The real focus now is compelling user experiences. It has to be user experience driven rather than technology driven.”
