nokia bans the word "phone"

[difenbaker]

Nokia bans the word 'phone'
Tortures those who utter it!
By Nick Farrell: Monday 15 May 2006, 06:54

NOKIA DESIGNER Harry Santamäki has a big bottle of cod liver oil on his desk which he takes every time he mentions the word 'phone'.

According to the Seattle Times, Nokia staff are forbidden to call the devices it makes 'phones'. Instead they are called "multimedia computers".

Now while you might think that the "multimedia computers" made by Nokia are a tad light on the functionality side, that is because the title is inspirational. In otherwords what Nokia wants to do is replace the computers that most users have, with a phone, er multimedia computer.

contd:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31699

from this link:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002993095_nokia14.html

cheers!

[seangoodwin86]

that is a bit on the steep side like!

banning the word phone!

what next?

[Jose_R.A.M]

Haha, it was funny watching the new N-series presentation...

that phrase stuck in my mind, especially with the distinct pronounciation "These are mooltimedya compyoootars!" hehe!

I'm liking the aversion therapy though! haha

I hate the smell of cod liver oil..yeuch!

[s02264849]

Wow... it's just like north korea, where every citizen has to refer to kim jong il as 'dear leader' (yeck!)

[s02264849]

what next?

any staff caught speaking ill of their products would have to face a 15-man firing squad :p

[robbii]

You can call anything a "computer" these days so why not a phone. The only time I need to use a pc is for business and gaming, but for email, browsing and multimedia my nokia is always at my fingertips. I think Nokia is headed in the right direction but they are going to have a tough time convincing the rest of the world.

Maybe "multimedia computer" is a stretch, maybe call it like "Handheld" or something.

[crazyze]

Ah man, I can see in future press conferences that Nokia are going to come up with the most random names that they want all of us to adopt. It was hilarious when they unveiled the latest N-series how many times 'multimedia computers' were mentioned.

Jay, you are spot on with the pronounciation :D

[Jose_R.A.M]

Yeah computers (in the literal sense) are everywhere.

I find it a long winded to go "Hey, where have you put the charger for my MULTIMEDIA COMPUTER, no the smaller one, No the one that takes calls. Whats it called again...oh yeah a phone".

Haha, phone must be like a really bad swear word at nokia.

__________

edit: crayze, hehe, yeah well that presentation did stick in my mind...N93 being in it and all:D

Yeah when they mentioned it, and said only these phones were computers, digital cameras arent...:confused:

[MikeUK]

Meh, I see multimedia computer as something with high quality TV, DVD playback etc. with a full os. I think Handheld Computer, is more appropriate, or Comunications and Multimedia Computer (CMC), or Handheld Multimedia and Comunications Device HMCD............"Hey where did I leave my HMCD?!?!"

I don't like just "multimedia computer" as it's already been used. It's like you can't call a cordless landline phone a mobile phone, although technically it is.

[Shun]

I guess Nokia is desperately trying to hide the limitation of the phone centric OS before the other generic OSes move into mobile devices... of course, it is also working on the open source OS to backup where the current OS failed...

Though I actually laughed when they talk about "multimedia computer", it is still very good marketing and planning in my opinion, :)

[carcomptoy]

Still think it's a bit harsh...I like the North Korea allusion:p

[666joe]

Erm isn't Ryuichi Sakamoto an Emmy award winning composer who did the 8800 tones - is he now designing phones sorry multimedia devices too ?

[s02264849]

Hmmm, in the link it's Harry Santamäki, not Ryuichi Sakamoto



I'm confused :confused:

[666joe]

www.ryuichi-sakamoto.com - classical composer....and of course writer of the top dance anthem Watergate Heart of Asia....

Harry Santamäki vows to take a sip of cod liver oil from the bottle on his desk if he ever utters the word phone.

God I hate being so square.....sorry Dif but that was bugging me

[Dynamoo]

And how long until they don't actually remember to put a *phone* in one of these multimedia computers.. oh wait.. the Nokia 770 ;)

[Viipottaja]

Lol.. don't believe everything you read!!!! But then again, if the cod liver oil thing was true, would only show they have a good sense of humor about it.

Look, its all about branding and differentiation in the market place. That's all.

Although another theory I read somewhere was that Microsoft has the copyright on the term "Smartphone" so they could not use it anymore.. :)

[jolo]

I don't like just "multimedia computer" as it's already been used. It's like you can't call a cordless landline phone a mobile phone, although technically it is.
Well, to be fussy - cordless phone is just that - it is cordless. It doesn't do handovers, so its not really mobile.

[Moby]

And how long until they don't actually remember to put a *phone* in one of these multimedia computers.. oh wait.. the Nokia 770 ;)N770 will have VOIP in a couple of weeks :)

[carcomptoy]

www.ryuichi-sakamoto.com - classical composer....and of course writer of the top dance anthem Watergate Heart of Asia....

Harry Santamäki vows to take a sip of cod liver oil from the bottle on his desk if he ever utters the word phone.

God I hate being so square.....sorry Dif but that was bugging me
Changed:D

I was wondering too...he's a composer and phone designer?!!!

[Moby]

Lol.. don't believe everything you read!!!! I believe the term is viral marketing ... lots of press coverage for a very small throw away comment.

[666joe]

I believe the term is viral marketing ... lots of press coverage for a very small throw away comment.

Damn and we are playing into there hands !!! close the thread quick !