When Samsung Omnia W succeeds, Nokia Lumia fails

Nokia has bet it’s entire strategy on two things. To beef up the affordable dual-sim handset segment and to consolidate the high-end smartphone segment with the help of Windows 7.5 OS. While the former strategy seems to yield some results (if not spectacular) the latter seems to have backfired. The reason can be attributed to the pricing and some key features found missing. How else would you explain the front-facing video calling camera missing from the Rs. 30,000 smartphone called Lumia 800! Nokia has been splashing money to educate the NFC capability – Touch to share. But Nokia Lumia 800 doesn’t have the NFC Capability..What were the guys at the top management thinking?
One of my friend told an interesting anecdote happened during the Nokia Lumia 800 launch party. Young marketing chaps took over the reins of the entire proceedings. Everyone in the party were handed over a glass of juice – the contents of which were apparently unknown! And then, one marketing guy proclaims loudly, “Gentlemen, the juice in your hand is a mix of Apple and Blackberry crush! Nokia will rule!”…And, they forgot about the 400 pound gorilla called Samsung which stunned Nokia by launching Samsung Omnia W with comparable configurations at just Rs. 18,299! (available at flipkart)
Let’s pitch the Samsung Omnia W against the two Nokia Lumias.

	Samsung Omnia W	Nokia Lumia 800	Nokia Lumia 710
Best Price	Rs.18,299	Rs. 28, 990	Rs. 19,999
Weight	115g	142g	126g
Thickness	10.9mm	12.1mm	12.5mm
Display	3.7 inch capacitive touchscreen	3.7 inch capacitive touchscreen	3.7 inch capacitive touchscreen
Display resolution	480 x 800 pixels	480 x 800 pixels	480 x 800 pixels
Display Technology	Super AMOLED	AMOLED	TFT
Processor	1.4 Ghz Scorpion	1.4 GHz	1.4 GHz
Internal Storage	8 GB	16 GB	8 GB
RAM	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB
Camera	5.0 MP, Auto Focus, LED Flash	8.0 MP Auto Focus, LED Flash	5.0 MP Auto Focus, LED Flash
Video Camera	0.3 MP VGA	NA	NA
Battery	1500 mAh	1450 mAh	1300 mAh
SIM Slot	Normal	Micro-SIM	Normal

One look at the comparison table, and it’s very clear that Samsung Omnia W fares well in multiple areas and still ends up being much more affordable than the other two versions. If you compare Nokia 710 and Nokia 800, you pay almost Rs. 10,000 extra for the 8.0 MP Camera and 16GB internal storage, which in my mind is ridiculous! Nokia Lumia 800 should drop the price otherwise, it’s very clear that the demand will never be created for the otherwise well designed product!