The Knives Are Out In Phoneland

We try hard at Eurocheddar to avoid discussing the banal or mentioning business news deemed trite. It has always been our objective to shine a lateral light on current events and leave the often-dreary headlines to others. It’s with this intention that we’ve rarely discussed the micro-maneuvering of Nokia or Apple concerning “smartphones.” I know the world in general has a fetishistic and quite frankly, fanatical, fascination with mobile phone technology, but incremental advancements in design or application always make me think of adults being reduced to children on the playground mesmerized by a shiny button or colorful pebble. The world goes on around them, and yet there they are – stuck, transfixed by this speck of silliness. I realize I’m alone on this one.

Well the plot on all this nonsense just became thicker. Nokia is pissed off that they’ve lost 3% of the global handset market and is claiming Apple has stolen intellectual property and used them for the iPhone. This is probably a ruse to get Apple to share some of its fruits (iTunes, Apps, etc) with Nokia. Regardless, this seems to be an elaborate dance, and not really the cockfight of monumental proportions some of the press would lead you to believe.

I don’t think the issue really lies with technology patents. I think Nokia is flummoxed by the simple, graceful, and sexy nature of Apple’s DESIGN, and their ability to market the it extremely well. Once the initial device is up and running – bells , whistles and all – you’re still buying into the IDEA OF THE BRAND. And that, is where Apple will always win in the long run. Patents or not. The point I’m trying to make can be encapsulated in how each brand communicates their product. Do you know what Nokia calls a mobile phone? : “Converged Devices.” Not much sex in that one.