This insight is open to all subscribers and registered users, or available by completing the form.
In 2009, Nokia - the world's largest device manufacturer - managed to ride out the financial storm by throwing out costly components but failed to come up with appealing new devices in time for the Christmas season. In the mid- to high-end price segments, Apple, Samsung and HTC have been gaining strong momentum by expanding and refreshing their data-friendly capabilities whilst Nokia has been building on the legacy of its Comes with Music and navigation portfolios based on its rigid 10 year-old Symbian OS. Moreover, Nokia announced that it will reduce the number of smartphone models next year from 20 to 10 despite the fact that it foresees a 10% rise in global device shipments in 2010 and intends to connect 300 million users to its Ovi platform by the end of 2011 as part of its major new push into Internet services.
We believe that capability has always been Nokia's biggest stumbling block: it lacks the breakthrough innovation that will disrupt the market (especially from a user interface perspective), but it definitely has the intent factor to become a threat since it is highly skilled in scaling out global mass-market solutions. The Finnish vendor has at least recently answered certain questions related to the capability challenge by stating that it will migrate smartphones to lower price tiers and will launch more Qwerty and touchscreen devices based on its upcoming new Symbian user interface, as well as its Maemo 6-powered mobile computer by the middle of 2010.
Nokia could regain momentum in the US market (where shipments dropped by 31 percent in Q3 2009 year-on- year) as Motorola's mobile arm is less of a threat and is likely to be traded out next year. RIM and Apple will be the two strong contenders to outperform in the large US enterprise segments. In addition, Sony-Ericsson is likely to undergo a massive shake-up as well under which Sony Japan might gain more control over the failing joint-venture. Time to market is critical for handset vendors; get it wrong and it could rapidly shake up an entire company - but Nokia knows it.
(This article is part of a series of predictions for 2010 from the GSMA Intelligence team.)
Report details
Nokia refocuses for success
Download the report
Complete the form to get instant access to this content. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
By submitting this form, you agree that your email address and related activity on the platform will be processed for the purpose of generating and providing the requested report. Your data will be shared with GSMA Intelligence for this purpose. For more information, please see the GSMA Intelligence Privacy Policy.
Report details
Nokia refocuses for success
Download the report
Complete the form to get instant access to this content. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
By submitting this form, you agree that your email address and related activity on the platform will be processed for the purpose of generating and providing the requested report. Your data will be shared with GSMA Intelligence for this purpose. For more information, please see the GSMA Intelligence Privacy Policy.
Related research
Mobile operators remain the leading smartphone retailers, but not among young adults
GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition examines the preferred retailers and sales channels for consumer smartphone purchases.
On-device AI: mobile network filler or saviour?
On-device AI is the next frontier for AI deployments in consumer and enterprise segments. Use cases include AI-based search and personal assistants, image analytics on a smartphone, AI-assisted driving and navigation in cars, industrial applications such as automated guided vehicles, and improved IoT analytics. This has implications for the device world and major tech companies whose business models depend on consumer time on the internet and digital platforms. It also matters for operators, given the ripple effect of AI-driven data traffic on mobile and fibre networks, and the direct revenue opportunity.
Industry Checkpoint: consumer eSIM, Q1 2026
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on consumer eSIM, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: how eSIM-only and China’s eSIM launch are two factors that could accelerate consumer adoption of eSIM; how new customer propositions and offerings are taking travel eSIM to the next level; how eSIM is tapping into new categories of emerging consumer devices while driving new bundling approaches; and how eSIM is enabling a better blend of connectivity and entertainment experiences in sport.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn more- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics
How can we support you?
Get in touch
Contact the GSMA Intelligence support team for help with your account, subscriptions, or access to reports and insights.
Newsletter
Subscribe to the GSMA Intelligence newsletter for the latest industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.