Nokia irks UK carriers with decision to include Skype on N97
by Donald Melanson 
posted Feb 27th 2009 at 5:02PM
Nokia made plenty of folks happy with its decision to include Skype on its new N97 handset, and future N-series devices, but it looks like the usual cadre of UK carriers aren't among them, and they're now making their displeasure quite clear. That includes O2 and Orange, who are apparently threatening to refuse stock of the N97 unless Nokia strips out the Skype client, a point they have reportedly made directly to Nokia in "high-level discussions." Another unnamed "operator source" was apparently even more blunt, saying that this is "another example of them trying to build an ecosystem that is all about Nokia and reduces the operator to a dumb pipe," adding that, "some people like 3 may be in a position where it could make sense to accept that. But if you spend upwards of £40m per year building your brand, you don't want to be just a dumb pipe do you?" For its part, Nokia seems to be staying mum on the matter for the time being, though it's tough to see a handset like the N97 just sitting on the shelf, so it seems like one party or the other will have to give sooner or later.[Via mocoNews.net]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Flare576 @ Feb 27th 2009 5:15PM
My interpretations:
"You are giving your consumers too many features!"
"One of your features makes us obsolete!"
"We're not a dumb pipe; the information we tunnel to our consumers is intelligent, so we must be, too!"
Donald @ Feb 27th 2009 5:42PM
"But if you spend upwards of £40m per year building your brand, you don't want to be just a dumb pipe do you?"
As a consumer, a company spending £40m/year building themselves up as a dumb pipe would get my business.
bernard420 @ Feb 27th 2009 6:20PM
I hate how carriers think the consumer is retarded.
Us engadget readers know, and we shall be heard eventually.
Give us Skype, give us our white space - wimax
and GIVE US FREEDOM.
ps; I jizz over the N97 every single day.. look forward to any posts updating my knowledge on this beast :)
tnkgrl @ Feb 27th 2009 8:10PM
> "another example of them trying to build an ecosystem that is all about Nokia and reduces the operator to a dumb pipe,"
Duh! That's exactly the way it should be... Carries should just be wireless ISPs.
Sameer Surampalli @ Feb 28th 2009 12:04AM
Couldn't Nokia just like put Skype for free download off of their website or have Skype release it? Just not have it installed on the phone.
Al @ Feb 28th 2009 12:31AM
That's the current plan, but the carriers are scared of the app existing.
Mace @ Aug 7th 2009 10:08AM
Where do we need operators but just to deliver bits from point A to point B. Everything else is useless. We don't need their applications or services, at least Nokia can provide all I need (music, maps, email, etc.).
Phones should be treated just like any other electical equipment. When I by a vacuum cleaner I do not need to make a 2-year contract with the electricity company to get their "special" electricity. And my vacuum cleaner can have what ever features I like, the electricity company certainly should not have anything to say about that.
Nokia is the only company to fight against the stupid operators, please support it! Apple and the rest are in their bandwagon, and against the customers. They want a closed ecosystem, Nokia wants an open one.