O2 boss: Nokia smartphones are too expensive

Nokia‘s debut Windows Phone – the Lumia 800 – has been a hit amongst UK networks, except one: O2. According to Simon Lee-Smith, Telefonica’s European general manager, that’s because the handset’s too expensive.

Speaking to Telecoms.com, Lee-Smith explained that Nokia’s premium devices “are not yet at the right price point”, saying: ”If Nokia wants to sell in volume, they need to bring out devices which are cost-competitive”.

“They need to be able to subsidise their high end smartphones, because they’re too expensive,” he added. “All device manufacturers seem to think that a €400-plus device is the norm. Well, it isn’t. Customers and operators won’t pay that cost for a device which doesn’t differentiate sufficiently.”

Here in the UK, you can pre-order the Nokia Lumia 800 for £442.80 SIM free, ahead of its release on November 16. It’s also available to pre-order from Phones 4u, on subsidised tariffs with Orange and Vodafone. Prices start from a fairly-reasonable £26 per month, including 400 minutes, 3000 texts and 250MB of mobile data.

Do you think the Nokia Lumia 800 is too expensive, or do you think O2 is covering-up a fall-out with the Finnish phone giant?

[Source: This Is My Next]