Microsoft/Nokia Alliance: Going After the BlackBerry
Microsoft and Nokia created some excitement last week with the unveiling of an alliance that will see Redmond put Office Mobile on the Nokia eSeries phone line, as well as on additional, future devices. While both companies have been feeling the heat from Google with its Android line, and RIM with the BlackBerry, a statement from Nokia makes clear it’s RIM the Finnish company has in its sights:
“This is giving some of our competitors — let’s spell it out, RIM — a run for their money,” said Nokia executive vice-president Robert Andersson, in a telephone interview. “I don’t think BlackBerry has seen the kind of competition we can provide them now.”
This is a pretty direct statement, yet it appears to overlook the fact that the BlackBerry line already has the ability to work with Microsoft Office documents through third-party solutions. Symbian phones currently have that same ability, too. The only capability that the Office Mobile inclusion will add to Symbian is OneNote Mobile, which isn’t available on any platform other than Windows Mobile.
(via BusinessWorld)
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Right, like this is going to give anyone a run for their money. I have the curve 8900 and I’ve used the Office applications.
Try doing anything – browsing, let alone modifying an office document on a phone is torture. The best you can do is quickly peruse something. It sucks.
For them to think adding this feature is going to be some huge compelling addition…
Good grief.
If you’re targeting the consumer space, I’d say build a wicked good facebook app. (My brother can’t upload pics on the pre yet, very primitive FB app).
On the business side?
Just build a phone / OS / apps that work and feel mature and complete – like it’s not a version 1.0, or 0.x.
I should add, I’m not being critical of the 8900 here – trying to work with office documents on any phone sucks.
I agree this is minor, but with a larger screen, VGA or above, light work with office documents becomes more feasible.