Apparently Nokia’s fan base turned on its head when Apple released the iPhone. I suppose Nokia thought itself the undiscovered flower of the mobile world…the Apple of mobile devices as it were. When the iPhone dropped, so did Nokia’s jaw when they discovered the ship had sailed.

Perhaps the iPhone doesn’t do anything more (some would say less) than a Nokia (or Windows Mobile) device, but it does so with flair and the level of integration (and ease) expected from Apple. Many Nokia fan sites have spouted why their Symbian-powered devices are better, or do more, than the iPhone. Sigh. It’s the OS war all over again.

Last week, Michael Robertson, CEO of SIPphone (and formerly of many recognizable brands) stated his list of 9 Things an iPhone Can’t Do. It’s a concise list but not without its flaws.

Customizable Dashboard

Meh. It’s handy, don’t get me wrong, but hardly the best-used feature in Symbian. Of the many add-on software applications that complete the shortcomings in Symbian, not all use the Standby screen. Nimbuzz doesn’t. Jaiku does. Others, like Truphone, will display a “connected” icon when in fact it’s disconnected.

Did Apple consider a standby screen or did they discover their users like a clean interface?

Instant Messaging

Michael mentions that “anyone under 29 uses [IM] as a crucial communications method.” By default, the iPhone uses SMS in place of AOL-style instant messaging although Apollo IM fills the gap. It should be noted that Nokia does not include an IM client either but does provide for third parties to utilize the built-in Wireless Village spec. Too bad no one has forwarded that effort beyond short bursts of hype from PacketBox. Otherwise you’re off grabbing a copy of IM+ or Gizmo for your IM needs on Symbian.

Shooting Videos

Considering the Nokia (and other) devices take multiple seconds to start-up in video mode, don’t always offer autofocus, and may lack an LED flash, this isn’t a mature feature in any phone. Still and video camera modes should power up instantly like an SLR or any camcorder.

OTA Updating

Nokia and Blackberry has Apple on this one. I should note that not everyone uses an Exchange Server so OTA updating isn’t a critical feature for consumers as it might be for business users.

One Button Access

The Nokia Standby screen excels in this regard. Handy while driving, no doubt, but one could argue that using your mobile while driving isn’t terribly safe or legal depending on your location.

Send Files To/From PC

If loading up a Windows Explorer-like application to browse the disturbingly complex Symbian folder structure is your thing, then go nuts. Joking aside, moving files to/from my Nokia is easy via Bluetooh and USB.

Can the iPhone do this? Don’t know. Does anyone really want more than their music or photos? Apple doesn’t tout the iPhone as a laptop replacement and, honestly, a Symbian device barely squeaks past in that capacity.

VOIP Calling

I’ve always thought this is where Nokia rules. Truphone is a well-engineered application, as is Gizmo Project for S60, but neither is without its usability flaws. In fact, I’m starting to think that mobile VOIP is more hype than function.

The VOIP clients I’ve used (Truphone and Gizmo) are not reliable. Truphone will disconnect at random. Tell me its connected when I dial, then tell me it’s not connected. Won’t reconnect without rebooting the phone. Making a call more than eight feet from my wireless access point is sketchy at best (although streaming H.264 video from my Mac to Xbox 360 works flawlessly at over 20-feet). Trying to use an automated telephone attendant is nearly impossible because DTMF tones don’t always go through.

I tried Gizmo but it failed miserably. Long start-up times. My first call would always go through flawlessly then that was all she wrote. Subsequent phone calls would not complete requiring a reboot of the phone. The voice quality was inconsistent, often nearing incomprehensible.

Could Apple add VOIP to its iPhone? Probably, it’s UNIX after all, but should they? Apple doesn’t like to sell unreliable products and mobile VOIP is just that.

Wireless Keyboard

Meh. I bought one for my Palm Tungsten T3 and found it nary a laptop replacement. To this day it sits, folded, ready for a use that will never come.

Michael wraps up his story by stating Steve Jobs “wants to lock you into their system where you have no choice. Your devices and ultimately your data are under their control.” Please. Microsoft has been doing that for years and not a stitch differently. You may be forced into using iTunes to manage your iPod but allowing ump-teen different applications to do the same thing (just differently) is not at Apple’s core. That goes to Linux and Windows where elite users hate anything dished out to them by Corporate and jump through hoops to change their OS ad naseum.

It’s the very fact Apple maintains tight control over their equipment is why it runs so well and the user experience is consistent. Is it perfect? No, but it’s leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

As for Nokia providing an “open system” in its mobile devices… Sure, you can install software onto them but otherwise Nokia releases mobile devices and abandons them as quickly. Firmware updates are few and far between and newer versions of the OS are never released on older devices. Nokia mobile devices sell at an iPhone like premium such as the E61’s $550 when new. Until the iPhone, Nokia left the U.S. market dangling in the wind, even taunting it with a Flagship store in NY that sold European-spec phones.

OS and device integration? Nokia’s PC Suite isn’t something I use (I’m on a Mac) but their “Nokia Multimedia Transfer” application for Mac still has that new-car smell. It works but is no iPhoto or iTunes by way of integration.

And where, exactly, should I be downloading the Noka Maps application? Here, here, here, or here?

Nokia has great devices at elevated prices. Little presence in the U.S. but a ravenously loyal fan base. Perhaps Nokia developers and users should focus their energies on maximizing the Symbian-experience with flawless software and keep a watchful eye on version 1.0 of the iPhone instead of criticizing its early feature set. If the iPhone is anything like OS X, it will be an incredible device years from now.

Related posts:

• Nseries party in LA and who should buy the Nokia N95
• Will Google give us Visual Voicemail on Symbian?
• Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 1
• T-Mobile: anyone home?
• Gizmo + Nokia using GizmoVOIP.com

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