Nokia readies iPhone-ish "Tube," disses Apple's sales

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Apr 8th 2008 at 12:27AM

It appears that Nokia is readying its official response to the iPhone, a project grossly codenamed "Tube" that will feature a touch interface. The new handset -- which is said to closely resemble Apple's device (see above, we assume) -- was shown during a slideshow at the Evans Data Developer Relations Conference in Redwood City, California. The slide demonstrated the phone's UI, including a promotional shot featuring Shrek The Third. Tom Libretto, vice president of Forum Nokia, believes that the company can compete for the iPhone's marketshare, though the phone-maker hasn't set a street date for the device. Apple has sold more than 4 million units since the iPhone's launch, but Libretto smugly noted that, "We've done that [volume] since we've had dinner on Friday," (though he failed to mention that it was 4 million low-end candybar handsets). He then put on a monocle, puffed on a Cuban cigar, and knocked back a tall glass of Cristal while chortling, "Oh, I do say!"

[Thanks, Alex]

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian, Apple, iPhone OS

Tags: iphone, tom libretto, TomLibretto, touch, tube

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highest Ranked

boss-hogg @ Apr 8th 2008 12:38AM

Cant wait to see what Nokia has to counter Apples Iphone!

Neutral

roe @ Apr 8th 2008 1:02AM

Dude!

I have the Iphone and I too can't wait to see what Nokia has to offer as well too! The Iphone is very limited with alot of stuff like the A2DP,3G,Video Recording, and lack of MegaPixel (Camera with no flash, can't send picture as a regular text message need I say more? And if Nokia offers all of these requirements which they do already on there high end phone then I might have to get the nokia touchscreen phone instead. I can't wait to see what nokia has to offer!!!!

Highly Ranked

Steven @ Apr 8th 2008 1:18AM

Why does every touchscreen device have to be an "iPhone imitator"? Yes, the iPhone is cool and a great phone and everything. But seriously, how many different ways can you make a touch screen? Its pretty limited to a big flat rectangle with as few buttons as possible. Would a star-shaped touchscreen be practical or pocketable? no.

No, I'm not an "Apple/iPhone hater." Yes, I'll probably switch from Verizon to get the iP2. But, I'm just saying lets get serious, a touchscreen is a touchscreen, not an iPhone wannabe.

Neutral

loosely_coupled @ Apr 8th 2008 3:47AM

It's not because it has a touchscreen... LOOK AT THE PICTURE! Thats a god damn iPhone with a Nokia label...

For the other people commenting, the common features missing on the iPhone such as MMS, video recording, and A2DP will no doubt be available soon, whether from Apple or a 3rd party via the SDK. Nokia usually makes nice hardware and I'm sure this Iphone wannabe will be nicer than all the other attempts, but I think iPhone 3G will still be better for most. Over the next year or two, the iPhone platform will most likely become incredibly successful as well, and lead many to switch over from Windows mobile and Symbian.

Neutral

boss-hogg @ Apr 8th 2008 11:16AM

agree!

Highly Ranked

derX @ Apr 8th 2008 3:56PM

"It's not because it has a touchscreen... LOOK AT THE PICTURE! Thats a god damn iPhone with a Nokia label..."

Loosely_coupled, you phail. If you're going to be so damn adamant about something, at least be right. It's what Nokia whipped up a while back just to show it's fledgling Touch OS.

Again, you phail.

Also, did you not see that this device is missing that lone button that that iPhone has?

Highly Ranked

bustafone @ Apr 8th 2008 2:05AM

Talk is cheap!
if they have an answer to the IP, then bring it out and stop talking sh..t

Neutral

Vikram Deo @ Apr 8th 2008 2:39AM

Will this device run the new S60 touch???

Neutral

sinfuldoor @ Apr 8th 2008 2:56AM

the ipod touch is better than the iphone..lol iphone is not even as close to being good as the n95. nokia makes the best phones in world!

Highest Ranked

Engadgetluvsappl @ Apr 8th 2008 5:24AM

Joshua, don't be such an iFanboy. When you're selling 18 phones every second of every day, not all of them are "low-end candy bars".

Neutral

bear @ Apr 8th 2008 5:34AM

come on nokia! put every damn thing u can into that thingy and use s60 touch and beat the iphone right up to the end of the wall!

Neutral

John @ Apr 8th 2008 7:40AM

There is no real iphone killer. Apple has enough loyal fans who would rush out and drop $500 on an iBedpan if it was made by Apple.

Neutral

Raimo van der Klein @ Apr 8th 2008 8:31AM

a 100 million symbian devices a year is not bad...

Neutral

Constable Odo @ Apr 8th 2008 9:22AM

There are touch interfaces and then there is the iPhone touch interface. Some do have a tendency to be sluggish or not sensitive enough. We'll have to wait and see how well this Nokia model is. Give it a chance. It does look similar to an iPhone, but if the dimensions and shape are nearly alike, it will likely resemble an iPhone to some degree. I'm sure this Nokia Tube will have every feature known to man. More features than even the iPhone 2. LED flash, microSD, GPS, user-replaceable battery, etc. Nokia will sell plenty of them, for sure.

Neutral

Ian Wood @ Apr 8th 2008 11:00AM

Yeah, I bought one of the first "iPhone-ish" iPhone imitator touch screen phones in 2003. Wait... What?

Highly Ranked

Heathen @ Apr 8th 2008 11:30AM

If it is series 60 it immediately starts out better than the iPhone.

Neutral

Steven @ Apr 8th 2008 1:58PM

@loosely_coupled and boss-hog. I don't think you're getting my point. There is no such thing as an iPhone wannabe unless someone intentionally makes a phone to look like the iPhone. IT IS GOING TO LOOK SIMILAR BECAUSE THATS THE ONLY PRACTICAL WAY TO DO IT. There is only 1 way to make a full touchscreen.

All this iPhone copy-crap is getting a little ridiculous. Seems like the "fanboys" are a little insecure..

Neutral

narutogrey @ Apr 8th 2008 6:30PM

Steven,
The thing is that for this specific phone, Nokia actually stated that they were imitating the good points of the iPhone. They said that there was no shame in copying the iPhone's features and UI. He goes on to talk about how all phone companies copy each other all the time, but this time they were going to specifically borrow the iPhone's best features.

Highly Ranked

narutogrey @ Apr 8th 2008 6:35PM

I forgot to add one more quote by Anssi Vanjoki (Nokia's Executive VP & General Manager of Multimedia). Talking about the iphone Aug. of last year said, "If there is something good in the world then we copy with pride."

Neutral

Jason Peterson @ Apr 9th 2008 9:43AM

No mutlitouch, and no word on what the browser will be like. And Simbian can be buggy at times. I know the iPhone is missing features and all, but the interface is better than any I have seen bar none. I just hope the the SDK and iP2 add more to the table to keep the fan boys loyal. And in regards to companies copying the iPhone; it is inevitable, companies will talk crap about a good product, then copy it and try to "do it better." It is a fact of life. What I find amusing is fanboys of Apple and fanboys of Nokia (or any other manufacturer for that matter) battling it out about who makes the best products. People like you fanboys are one of the reasons I keep reading these blogs Lol.