New Lumia is not Nokia's 'last chance'

Company says: “This is a step in the journey. This characterisation that it is the last step is not reality."
When Nokia's Windows Phone 8 smartphones were unveiled last week, the reaction was not what the Finnish firm expected.
While users seemed excited by the clean design, wireless chargingand high-quality cameras, the markets did not share that enthusiasm and Nokia's share price fell by up to 15 per cent with analysts blaming the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920's lack of ‘wow factor’.
Now, Nokia's senior vice president of smart devices, Jo Harlow has stepped up to defend the company, saying: "This is a step in the journey. This characterisation that it is the last step is not reality. These are two devices; they’re not all the devices that we’ll base on Windows Phone 8. This is our strategy and it’s a journey; there’s not one moment in time that defines everything.”
Some critics have also complained that the new Nokia phones don't offer enough differentiation from Android and iOS devices. However, others have suggested that this is a deliberate strategy.
Tony Crisp, an analyst with research firm Ovum, says that Microsoft may be holding back on flooding the market so they may develop the natural benefits of collaboration with other Microsoft products, including Windows 8.
He also added that, with the legal disputes with Samsung, Apple and others still raging on, the future may offer up further opportunities for Microsoft and Nokia to capitalise on
Jo Harlow claimed that the firm was able to improve the overall Windows Phoine platform and still provide differentiated products, citing NFC and improved maps as ways in which Nokia had benefited from its close relationship with Microsoft.
She said: “It’s always a decision should this be in the platform or should it be unique to us. It’s always in our interest to grow the platform, and if we have tonnes of differentiations it makes us slower when Microsoft gives us the software to implement.”
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