Reactions to a new vision for Nokia

HELSINKI, Finland – Suddenly there’s a fresh feeling that Nokia could be sparking the winds of change on the global mobile scene. This has erupted since the speech given by Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO of Nokia, at the 2008 Nokia Annual General meeting last Thursday.

A few key phrases from Kallasvuo’s speech have stuck in our heads, and seemingly struck a chord with online commentators. Most notably:

“Companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft are not our traditional competitors, but they are major forces that must be reckoned with… our goal is to act less like a traditional manufacturer, and more like an Internet company”

Top tech site, ars technica, reacted to Kallasvuo’s speech:

“That’s a refreshingly open-minded attitude from the leader of a global technology powerhouse. Kallasvuo is effectively saying that the times, they are a-changin’, and Nokia must look in unexpected places for the ideas that will take the company into the next paradigm.”

Ed Sim at Beyond VC has an interesting view:

“Nokia understands that hardware margins are eroding and like in many technology businesses the value is in the software and monthly service revenue. In addition, as time goes by, more and more people will be using their phones and data services to get information and communicate with friends… The other piece that Nokia gets is that if they don’t start offering services on their devices, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo will. The delicate dance that Nokia is playing is how to fend off the traditional Internet guys while also adding value to its carrier partners.”

The Real McCrea reported by saying:

“Of course, Nokia has an amazing track record of corporate re-invention, getting it‚Äôs start in life as a paper mill!”

You can read Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo’s speech in full here. Take a look and let us know what you think? Do you really believe this could be the beginning of a new era for Nokia?