Gizmo5 Defends Nokia VoIP Intentions

It's not as easy as Nokia is trying to say: There are hundreds or thousands of companies without an own software for mobile VoIP. They just rely on the SIP standard. In Germany it's GMX, 1&1, Sipgate and the several Betamax daughters. Together they have millions of customers, I am one of them. These people cannot use VoIP on the new Nokia phones. I have always ten or more VoIP providers installed on my Nokia E61i's SIP client. This way I can always use the cheapest route and leverage free on net calls.

I believe this issue has less to do with technology and more to do with sales "channels". Given that most GSM subscribers globally have the freedom to purchase any devices they like agnostic of the mobile operator they use, the question remains as to whether the mobile operator still is the "key" channel for a handset manufacturer to reach end-consumers? As long as that channel stays the primary channel, adding core functionality to a handset platform that would in some way enable an alternative means of handset use that could "seemingly" potentially negatively impact the business of the channel itself, will always remain contentious. If the channel itself embraces the possibilities of IP-based voice communication and the plethora of new revenue generating applications and opportunities it brings with it, this becomes a non-issue and Nokia would be the first to enhance its platforms significantly - the technology has existed for a while - the business environment hasn't. We're in the middle of seeing this business environment morph and these are the few hicups we will see as it morphs.