Business Line caught up with D. Shivakumar, Senior Vice-President, Nokia - India, Middle East, Africa (IMEA) markets and the erstwhile Managing Director of Nokia India, for a brief interview on the launch of a new Lumia range post his address to students of the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.
On the features in the new Lumia 920 range
We’ve called it the world’s most innovative phone. The wireless charging, the imaging, and the City Lens feature are all fundamental innovations, nobody else has it. People have liked the wireless charging feature which is like a mouse pad.
In a house, you can have several pads lying around, you’re not fixed to a socket. The launch will happen in India soon.
On the slow response to the Lumia range
You need to execute well, need to have the right data package from the operator. A new operating system is like a religion, you need to get it right. It takes time and doesn’t happen quickly. Lumia is a big bet for us; the success of the 610 is huge for us. It shows there is pent-up demand for the right phone. People want to tap into Windows, given the right product and value innovation
On the Lumia numbers
Lumia has been growing. In Q4 (of the last year) we did one million, we did three million in Q1 and in Q2 we did four million units, so it continues to grow. We are in 54 countries and it’s found acceptability. The range is also moving. Currently, we have only four now (Lumia models); over time, we will have more of a range and it will get democratised. For example, 610 is priced at Rs 12,499 in India. Right now, it’s doing well and people are adopting the Windows platform. As the range expands, we will have more offers.
On the camera for the Nokia 920
One of Nokia’s biggest strengths is imaging. You will see more and more innovations from Nokia in both these areas. For Nokia Pure View, whether it’s a seasoned photographer or a tech enthusiast, they both like it. The next big innovation coming is the optical shake – even if your hand shakes, it counter-balances. One of the biggest problems in mobile phone photography is the hand shake. It’s met its objectives (the Pure View), it gave us leadership in the imaging business.
On the Samsung-Apple dispute
The tech world has always had challenges in terms of IPR. It’s an important thing. Companies such as Nokia invest a lot in R&D, in double digits. FMCG companies is more like 1-2 per cent, for pharma companies it’s higher. For anybody who believes in investing in R&D and patenting, protection is an important part, in whichever manner. Fundamentally, we should have patent protection, Nokia believes in it.