I’m pretty sure most in the world knows by now that Nokia is launching their first Windows Phone devices the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710, however apparently there one carrier you wont be able to pick up the Nokia Windows Phone Mango devices from and that is O2 or any other Telefonica regional carrier.
Why you may ask, well according to the guys over at The Next Web, Simon Lee-Smith, Telefonica’s European general manager believes the Nokia Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 handsets are too expensive.
Speaking with Telecom.com Lee-Smith claims that Nokia premium devices are “not yet at the right price point,” and if Nokia wishes to sell their smartphones in volume the company would “need to bring out devices which are cost-competitive.”
Lee-Smith also said that Nokia was “beginning to listen” to carrier customer and he expects Nokia to deliver “more commercially effective” devices in the new year and went on to state that the problem relates to such devices as the Nokia N8 and Nokia N9 that have been available for some time as well as the recently announced Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone.
Lee-Smith went on to say, “All device manufacturers seem to think that a €400-plus device is the norm. Well, it isn’t. Customers and operators won’t pay that cost for a device which doesn’t differentiate sufficiently.”
Last month during Nokia World, Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO stated that the first Nokia Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 800 would retail for 420 Euros pre-tax and pre-subsidy.
Lee-Smith further added that just improving smartphone specs isn’t sufficient, operators in general and Telefonica in particular will not pay premiums due to vendors delivering smartphones with higher resolution cameras and bigger displays, and says, “Let’s not let the technology and cost curve ahead of the demand curve.”
So, what do our readers think on this matter, do you agree with Lee-Smith that the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710 is too expensive for the market, or do you feel that 420 Euros price is about right for the handsets, or more importantly are you prepared to shell out €420 for the Lumia 800?
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