DoCoMo to sell mediocre Nokia handset

One hates to pound on DoCoMo, but their hobby recently does seem to be firing at both feet with an Uzi in either hand. The latest handset to join their lineup is the NM850iG, a revamped Nokia 6630.

First, the good news: It's a dual-mode W-CDMA/GSM device with Bluetooth.

Now, the bad: First, positioning. DoCoMo's current FOMA phone lineups are the 700 and 900 series. Assigning numbers outside its primary ranges is DoCoMo shorthand for "low-commitment, poor-fit-with-main-strategy device that is doomed to live a short life and die alone". Second, videophone. They give the phone video calling capabilities but only put a camera on the back. So not only can you not see your interlocutor, you also can't be sure that you have the phone aimed accurately enough for them to see you. Genius. Third, software. The Java support is comparable with the first generation of DoCoMo phones to support Java programs, the 503 series. You must be joking. Fourth, differentiation. Vodafone Japan carries a similar 6630-looking model already.

We'll spare them any ciriticism of the getting-old-fast form factor and the ho-hum 1.3 megapixel camera.

Why did they bother?

[Read: NTT DoCoMo: Press Release Article - NTT DoCoMo to Market 3G FOMA NM850iG Handset]

Posted by aragoto at February 16, 2006 11:30 AM | TrackBack