Nokia launches N8 smartphone amidst falling market share

Mobile handset leader Nokia, which has been steadily losing out to rivals in general of all hues of late, has launched the much-anticipated smartphone Nokia N8 with Ovi services, in its attempt to claw back market share and remain relevant to fast-changing consumers.
The N8, priced at Rs 26,259 apiece, comes with the Ovi services that enable a user to create content, connect to his/her favourite social networks and enjoy on-demand online television programmes.
“The consumer is in the centre of all that we do at Nokia and we are constantly innovating to enhance user experience and address user feedback,” said Nokia India vice-president and managing director D Shivakumar said at the launch here.
While the company today refused to speak about market share or sales numbers, saying it is in silent mode, according to the latest IDC report, Nokia’s market share plunged to a poor 36.3 per cent by end-June here from 54 per cent at the end of 2009 and over 70 per cent in 2008.
The IDC report shows that domestic companies like Micromax, Spice, Karbon and Lava which import handsets from China, shot up to 33 per cent during the past six months. In 2008, the domestic players had a paltry 0.9 per cent market share.