Letters: Nokia vs Apple

When Microsoft entered into the mobile phone market, most assumed this meant the mobile phone had won in the battle against personal computers. Since a lot more mobile phones were sold in comparison to personal computers/laptops/netbooks, the argument was, Microsoft realised it needed to get into mobile phones if it had to stay relevant. This was reinforced by Apple’s work on the iconic iPhone and by Intel’s work on mobile broadband.

So, Nokia’s decision to start producing netbooks has thrown open the entire debate all over again. This is a market where profit margins are wafer-thin and is also a market which few think is growing as fast as the mobile telephony one. So what does Nokia see in this market that nobody else does? Even more curious is Nokia’s decision to use Windows, given how most in the low-cost computing business are working with Linux. None of the answers are clear but it is certain that a giant and tech-savvy company like Nokia does not do things like this on an impulse. All those in the technology business must watch this development carefully.

Sanjiv Bhalla, New Delhi

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