What if the Symbian handset manufacturers followed the lead of Microsoft? Slashgear picks up on a Windows 7 architecture guide that gives [proposed] information on what customisations hardware manufacturers and networks can add to the new range of Windows Phone 7 phones. In short, not a lot. Which got me thinking about why the open principles of the Symbian Foundation are in opposition to this rush for conformity.
Read on in the full article.
Pls post info about 5230 new firmware which was released today...
I am all for operators having NO possibility to change anything on the phone. Possibly just adding some software or themes (which you can switch off and uninstall), never removing or crippling anything.
From me the operator is just a "dumb pipe" for voice and data - I always avoid any operator services, so I am not tied to a specific operator. On top of that operator provided services are lousy, anything free on the internet will be better and without operator lock-in.
Or maybe you know examples of good software or service from the operator? I know only ugly interfaces, buggy software and crippling. So I buy my phones unlocked, contract free.
Operators just cant be bothered with the hastle of trying to brand our frimwares. About the ONLY thing they do is throw in a few applications, their operator certificates, a new boot screen and a few operator images. The fact one guy could do that in about 30mins, I cant see why the dont brand all the new firmwares (even if it has to be approved by Nokia).
I don't find it disturbing as to the amount of people who debrand S60 based device simply to get firmware updates. You tell me, if the n97 is still stuck on v12, its a God awful phone but move it to v20 or 21, its an all new thing - but operators seem to ignore this fact. I think Nokia actually don't both putting out firmwares when the operators cant be bothered to brand as probably 7/10 devices are on operator product codes (bought through contracts)
One more thing - I do not think this can be left to the operators and their "good will" or sensibility. They do not care about you firmware upgrades - in fact they prefer a new contract with new phone and do not want to spend any time on already sold phones.
It is up to the handset manufacturer and OS maker to ensure good user experience. Apple did that, Microsoft understood that after Windows Mobile fiasco, I think Nokia will be forced to do that as well.
I agree with Ian that Nokia shouldn't rely on the supposed good will of carriers to provide a positive user experience to owners of, say, N97's.
If there's at least one area where Nokia should emulate Microsoft (and Apple), it's in taking charge of the end user experience by, if need by, completely by-passing the carrier. Carriers only care about you when you're ready to upgrade to a pricier plan or buy a more expensive handset.
Nokia needs to keep the luster on their brand name; they won't keep it by providing awful customer experiences, which is why I found it puzzling that they closed their few retail outlets and source out their post sales support to shady third party firms.
How can vanilla firmware cause a headache for network software ? If that's the case then the networks are too dumb to live, no ?
jimmy1 and others: nokia tried to skip operators in USA and they failed badly. that's why they try to cooperate more, especially in USA.
on the other hand, they recent phones designed with e.g. at&t are failure too (at least from sales viewpoint).
grameenphone??
Orange an Vodafone are the main Culprits for changing the software an spoiling mobiles,i had the N95 on O2 an could easily upgraded it but my mate got the N95 an Orange an could never get same update until he got the N95 flashed to remove the Orange software,Why can"t the Operators just leave the phones alone,thats another thing that slow the release on any mobile as well,Nokia having to put certain software to match the operator,an Orange Vodafone an T-Mobile get the names an software put on mobiles,the operators do not seem bothered just as long they are making money
Ewan,
I have to respectfully disagree. The future for firmware upgrades will either be 2 paths:
1) The Iphone way where they don't do any customizations (and what microsoft aspires for) and it just gets pushed to all users
or
2) The Android upcoming Froyo ideal (yet to see if it works though), where the core operating system is split from most user components, i.e browers, onscreen keyboard etc.. so firmware updates are only limited to the truly core components of the OS, and the rest of the updates are pushed through the Android market place.
If you'e big and bad like the Iphone, then no.1 works. But if you're not then No.2 is the way to go. Firmware updates for Symbian is likely to be terrible and you will only rely on the manufacturer to support this. The upgrade path is important, and Iphone users can see 1 or 2 large iterations of improvements yet for Symbian this is hardly the case. We are well behind on this front.