Nokia's Stephen Elop: "We are planning a lot of exciting things with Verizon as well"

posted by Daniel P.

Dec 18, 2012, 7:36 AM

Nokia's Stephen Elop: "We are planning a lot of exciting things with Verizon as well"

In an interview with CNET, Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop waxed poetic about the path that the company has taken with Windows Phone again, and apologized for the limited Lumia 920 supply, saying that the Finns are working hard to meet demand, and the situation has improved.

When the talk came to the Lumia 920 exclusivity with AT&T, though, Stephen Elop commented that they just wanted a focused approach with one carrier, which would set aside more resources, and make Nokia's flagship phone a "hero device", promoting it hard through retail store displays and front office employees.

This, however, doesn't mean everyone else will be left hanging, apparently, as Mr Elop hinted they have a little something in store for the largest US carrier, too:

There might be another similar hero exercise with a different operator. In this particular moment, the opportunity with the Lumia 920 presented well with AT&T. And we’re pleased to have just restarted our relationship with Verizon. We are planning a lot of exciting things with Verizon as well.

There have been rumors for a while about an exclusive PureView camera with 20 something megapixels resolution from Nokia that might be heading to Verizon, and talks from Stephen Elop himself about PureView Phase 3 devices in the labs, which might merge the OIS of the 920 and lossless zoom of the 808 into a complete package, so we cross fingers that is the case here.

Nokia's CEO also became more philosophical during the interview about the company culture he had found and tried to keep:

When I started early on I asked a question: What do you want me not to change? They said, the sense that we do good things for society. It's helping people communicate, connecting the next billion people to the Internet, helping move people forward. Culturally, that has continued to remain important. Essentially, we help humans progress. We're not just here to sell phones -- we have higher aspirations.

One thing is for sure about Stephen Elop - he is always pumped about the product, and ready to explain strategic decisions thoroughly. Nokia's comeback might have taken more time than investors thought, but Nokia certainly is been a big and clumsy ship to turn around, though the moves seem to be working, if the skyrocketing stock price is any indication.

source: CNET

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20 Comments

28. tigermcm

Posts: 861; Member since: Sep 02, 2009

here's how I see it, this exclusive crap is helping only ATT not MS or Nokia. Release it to every carrier. If you want to give some excuse about resources than give limited supply to each carrier.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 9:34 PM 0

26. MC1123

Posts: 1256; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

make 808 pureview run with WP8! but with modern specs ofcourse!

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 7:35 PM 0

24. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

This guy is just an idiot. "...saying that the Finns are working hard to meet demand..." Did you mean the Chinese? Because you closed all the local factories. "Then I started early on I asked a question: What do you want me not to change? They said, the sense that we do good things for society." Like ruin the whole ecosystem of a company, lose billions of dollars, and cost thousands of jobs? Further proof that a degree from a ritzy Ivy school does not make you intelligent enough to run a corporation.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 4:33 PM 0

23. 7thspaceman

Posts: 1597; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

I defiantly see Nokia coming back to be a big player in the smart phone market Windows phone 8 uses The "NT" kernel as part of it's powerful OS that is related to Windows 7, Vista , Windows XP, Windows 2000 desktop/Laptop. Microsoft programmers are busy making windows phone 8 more feature rich than windows 7.series smart phones. Nokia and others are going to be selling low cost windows 7.8 smart phones to low income areas of the world. Nokia has a big international following they will make money..

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 3:51 PM 0

18. Sankyaku

Posts: 6; Member since: Dec 18, 2012

If Nokia releases a better phone on Verizon I will be dumping my Lumia 920 and not use Nokia ever... :/

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 9:23 AM 0

5. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

awesome! With this, nex gen lumias will be even more innovative! MS is improving wp already, while nokia's awesome support adds up in it. You can almost call a lumia 'wp 8.5' device.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:13 AM 7

4. MeoCao unregistered

I guess Nokia does not have enough money to make L920 and had to sell their HQ, I wonder why MS did not help them.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 7:55 AM 3

9. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

The price wasn't right.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:20 AM 3

3. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

You better have something up your sleeve for Verizon. With the DUMBA$$ move of not including the Nokia Lumia 920 on Verizon's line up, Microsoft needs to STEP up & offer a compelling Nokia WP8 device.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 7:46 AM 5

8. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Why does MS have to step up? They didn't make the decision to offer the L920 exclusively on AT&T.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:19 AM 3

11. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Microsoft has to STEP up & DEMAND that their BEST devices have the MOST exposure possible. That means NO exclusivity with devices like the Nokia Lumia 920. That is what I mean when I say Microsoft has to step up. Imagine how many more Nokia Lumia 920's would have sold if it was NOT an exclusive phone to only AT&T.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:43 AM 3

13. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Unless/until MS acquires Nokia, there is a limit to what they can do to demand things from Nokia. Google can't demand that HTC not do carrier exclusives any more than MS can. If Nokia/Elop want to do stupid things, that is their prerogative.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:53 AM 1

17. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

Really do you think they are stupid? REALLY? Someone just doesn't sit atop of a company as large as this. And anyway there's never a single mind driving a company. All things decide in shareholders meetings.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 9:16 AM 0

19. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Android has the volume to get away with exclusive carrier deals. For Microsoft to compete with the likes of Android & Apple, they need to do what Apple does. Apple controls everything about their iOS. (That is bad.) Apple can sell so many phones because they FINALLY opened their doors to everyone. (That is good.) You can even get an iPhone on Cricket. Microsoft needs to demand that there are no carrier exclusives so their WP8 brand can get the most exposure as possible. That is where Microsoft should be more like Apple. Apple knew that they would not survive against Android unless they dropped carrier exclusivity. Microsoft’s WP8 won’t survive against BOTH Android & Apple if they keep this up.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 11:46 AM 3

2. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Gee.... If you want a high Mp count sensor coupled with OIS, loss-less (21x optical) zoom, and Internet integration, VZW has the Sammy Galaxy Camera. JB no less. Just $5/month on your shared data plan.

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 7:44 AM 0

12. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

You don't want to be seen with that thing covering a side your face would you???

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 8:49 AM 4

14. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

It isn't permanently attached (no different than a phone covering the side of your face).

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 9:05 AM 0

16. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

You do know it's way thicker...don't you?

posted on Dec 18, 2012, 9:13 AM 4

15. bon24x7

Posts: 211; Member since: Aug 30, 2012

Its a camera not a phone...duh..if you need a camera you've other better options than a galaxy camera for the same price. but there's no better alternative for a better camera on a phone compared to a pureview device like nokia 808. So if infact the news is true then its promising..