Nokia just can’t catch a break right now: In the hours after reports swirled around the web about one analyst cutting sales estimates for the new Lumia handsets, the Finnish company’s share price plummeted by nearly 10 percent.
Faced with this, the company has fired back with an attempt to lift its spirits. As
Reuters reports:
Nokia said sales of its first Windows Phone model, the Lumia 800, were off to an excellent start in Britain . . .
“Lumia 800 sales in the U.K. are off to an excellent start,” Nokia said in a statement. “Based on earliest data the sales start of the Lumia 800 is the best ever first week of Nokia smartphone sales in the U.K. in recent history.
“By our measures, we have gained significant smartphone sell-out share in the channels in which we are operating in the U.K.,” Nokia said.
There are plenty of qualifications in there: “An excellent start” is fairly unquantifiable; we don’t know what the “earliest data” is; and “in recent history” is vague enough to feel like a piece of spin speak. But with so many writing the whole enterprise off on the back of a limited launch and a handful of reports, you can’t blame Nokia for wanting to put out a different message.
The thing is, the claim and counterclaims make for easy headlines, but they almost all overlook what this situation is really about for Nokia.
The Lumia certainly isn’t about winning, at least not in the short term: It’s about reclaiming ground. It’s about stopping the rot, making products that some people love — perhaps not everybody. It’s about plotting a strategy and creating things that will drip down into the markets where Nokia is strongest over the next few years.
The share price drop suggests we have learned nothing from the short-termism of the financial crisis. Our distorted sense of what constitutes success creates these boom-or-bust moments that often ignore reality and increase the volatility in the market. Our increasingly frenzied news cycles pick up on small pieces of data and magnify them beyond all reasonable proportion.
After all, how many of us had heard of Pacific Crest (the analyst firm that estimated Nokia would sell) before yesterday? How many investors who saw reports that the Lumia launch was “a bust” realize that the reports are based on somebody looking at Google Trends? How many of us even trust analysts to get it right?
Don’t get me wrong: The stakes are tremendously high for Nokia here. Every statistic deserves to be scrutinized, every announcement should be pored over, every report has some weight to it — and if Nokia gets this totally wrong, it could be a long-term problem that is near impossible to recover from.
But turnarounds — if they happen at all — don’t happen overnight. Maybe we should stop behaving as if they do.
New post: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/JWaxKKqV (@GigaOM)
RT @bobbiejohnson: New post: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/JWaxKKqV (@GigaOM)
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/KsH2Dckm via Bobbie Johnson
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than #voip #telcom http://t.co/CP3ufK0I
“No-name” analysts mess with #Nokia stock prices – meanwhile #Lumia off to a good start in the UK: http://t.co/nkgTdHWI (@GigaOM)
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/hgSG69y4
#Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/GIqXlkXh @om #mobile
“how many of us had heard of Pacific Crest (the analyst firm that estimated what Nokia would sell ) before yesterday?” http://t.co/8Ptbb046
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are excellent http://t.co/u665HMiI
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/pG3JJ6Hc
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/EfODyBZg
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/sXyk4oyX
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/8xoPvbZo
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/RRZ13JKT
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/zAY4HNXG
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/MKRxbKMQ #BYOD
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/sOAVM9l0 #BYOD
RT @williammilisic: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are excellent http://t.co/u665HMiI
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/kXPeNFtl
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/hqVaPIs9
Nokia says sales in the UK are excellent http://t.co/TEJS7R25
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ #socialmedia http://t.co/xJqzzFYT
gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/aY0kEIz7
RT @gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/pG3JJ6Hc
WP7-based Lumia 800 enjoys the best-ever first week of Nokia smartphone sales in the UK in recent history. http://t.co/TaJgn686
RT @gianlucacarrera: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ #socialmedia http://t.co/xJqzzFYT
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ #socialmedia http://t.co/VsGNqUzZ http://t.co/MGcJ7isc
RT @gianlucacarrera: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ #socialmedia http://t.co/VsGNqUzZ http://t.co/wbeOCM30
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-exp… http://t.co/l014KNvU #gigaom
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/noVjwQB7 @amarchugg #news
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/UxY4rATe @amarchugg #news
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/QDcjQ8Oe
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/3iL9rKJk
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/eA3rJG8o
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/VNHfHHV7
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/jaWUVuQF
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/foc8DuO1
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/VAQGvy6k
RT @gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/pG3JJ6Hc
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/WpWgxdmo
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/55fsN9BM
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/rV7zqjqN
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/FXdPfTTy #technology
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/oqplSbdf
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than… http://t.co/rDMvLMF8 Via. GigaOM
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sa… http://t.co/D3gBcV9r
RT @gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/pG3JJ6Hc
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Nokia just can’t catch a break right now: in the hours after … http://t.co/sFwNTHBP
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/7oif0y7i
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: Nokia just can’t catch a break right now… http://t.co/2VU0IRnI
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – http://t.co/B2Tae4OU – @gigaom – [Excellent post! Screw financial markets. Go Nokia!]
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/Div8fn5P
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/h27clZY2
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/rCP0G5nQ
Social Media News : Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/vbNrSLYL
@earth2tech: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/v7IRdIQX
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/3q5E9LSb
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/nnSp40jj
#tech #news Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/EbekoFtu
@PascalToTheMax RT @leesmallwood: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ http://t.co/G4OnGLbm
RT @leesmallwood: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent ’ http://t.co/a5SCTwd0
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/uoigetqr
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/d9Hor23b
http://t.co/VE4250I8 Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’: By Bobbie Johnson Nov. 23, 2011, 3:20am … http://t.co/PbbwQpAZ
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/doQ9EFjZ
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-expected sales… http://t.co/vNF9V1Cx
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/v90Xxgyk
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/hZTsNOAG
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/sMivUHRs via @gigaom
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/OQ2kADU0
Nokia mata en Yunaikindom: ventas son “excelentes” http://t.co/S1cWzlgh – shared from @Taptu
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ – http://t.co/Z0BOZJrj
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ — Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/0H25Fkoi
Odlična analiza #Nokia #Lumia Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/16FZ5geT
Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/SUBB5JvT by @bobbiejohnson
RT @gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/pG3JJ6Hc
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent ” Faced with reports from analysts about lower-than-e #voip #telcom http://t.co/CP3ufK0I
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/i0rBKv4j
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/ZjMBrHLC
RT @williammilisic: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are excellent http://t.co/u665HMiI
RT @byodexpert: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/mMIxbqKW #BYOD
Interesting… “@gigaom: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are ‘excellent’ http://t.co/1JComhAi”
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/fAP3NbuW
RT @williammilisic: Nokia puts on a smile: U.K. sales are excellent http://t.co/u665HMiI
Great post here!! I was going to cover this topic myself now I don’t have to! Nokia Lumia sales not about right http://t.co/snLnB79U
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/lv7bDGXd via @gigaom
Sense and sensibility in the Nokia WinPho sales department. http://t.co/5GAYeA3K
“#Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent”.” #Lumia800 http://t.co/W5CKUc8E
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/7FcdAZhS
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/JA626wx7
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — Tech News and …: Faced with reports from analysts about lowe… http://t.co/RE0ikSP2
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” | Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/KpyDcBMr
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” | Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/UM1wfdxq
http://t.co/VE4250I8 Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — Tech News and …: Faced with reports fro… http://t.co/BRgFGjNm
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — Tech News and … http://t.co/YrilkQJF
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — Tech News and …: Faced with reports from analysts about lowe… http://t.co/77fnMXUT
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/ZLyr6Vmw
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/b6TUfaJw
No sé si será verdad…. o un milagro en ese mercado súper apple
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/9wsZREVc
Nokia se vrača: http://t.co/LHXLVZ2t
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/wzx1tmce
RT @movyloshop: Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/wzx1tmce
Ran around London trying to find the new Nokia Lumia but it was sold out everywhere. No wonder http://t.co/DGfBJqce #nokialumia #nokia
Maybe they’re finally onto something? http://t.co/fBhKU5ms
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/Bodx52RV
Problem is the Iphone was released in 2007. NOK is only 5 yrs too late. The land grab is over in the developed world. Now it is a market share game..a lot harder. The low end is still up for grabs but the competition is fierce and profitability illusive. So the best that NOK can hope for is to buy share..unprofitable growth..how long will shareholders give them in that scenario? Similar to MSFT buying search share but in MSFT’s case they can afford to lose a few billion a year indefinitely.
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” http://t.co/CurHqcnh
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/Z69Zd7nv
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/cbKhxAiU
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/DOm0rfw9
RT “@i4harold: Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/rx5LpHG5“
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/U3F2Yz0k
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/HGvHf9LZ
Nokia puts on a smile: UK sales are “excellent” — #mobile http://t.co/Oe96OjpK