Nokia’s killer new camera phone is finally coming to America, but unless you’ve got $700 to burn, we recommend holding off.
Nokia announced today that the 808 PureView, which is now infamous for its 41-megapixel camera, will soon be available for $699 on Amazon for U.S. customers. You’re paying a pretty penny, since you’re buying the phone off-contract, and you’ll have to provide your own AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card (it’s 2G-only on T-Mobile).
We’ve covered extensively why the 808 PureView’s camera is so remarkable. It packs an astounding number of pixels into a tiny sensor, allowing you to zoom into photos in extreme ways. But the phone also runs Nokia’s aging Symbian Belle OS, which is nowhere near a worthy competitor to the iPhone and Android.
Is it really worth suffering through a clunky OS and app ecosystem just to get your hands on a cool cellphone camera? I would say no — unless you just love being the only person in the room with a quirky gadget (breaking: the 808 PureView is now the perfect hipster phone). For everyone else, you’re better off nabbing one of the latest Android phones (the HTC One series, or Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S III), the iPhone 4S, or just holding out for Apple’s upcoming iPhone.
Nokia has previously mentioned that the PureView camera technology will eventually make its way to the company’s Windows Phones. Wait a year or so, and you’ll be able to get this crazy camera tech on a platform that won’t make your hate yourself.
Nokia Upgraded Amidst Troubling Times - Seekingalpha.com
By Katey Stapleton, Benzinga Staff Writer
Following thousands of job cuts, a managerial overhaul and plans to reorganize the business, the company's June 14th announcement shook already unsure investors and analysts to the core, with many research firms noting depleted faith in Nokia. However, not everyone saw the tough call to be as devastating as one would think.
Oppenheimer upgraded the telecommunications company to Perform on the day Nokia lowered its second quarter outlook last week. With Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows 8 launch looming, the firm thought it best to set risks aside for the moment and concentrate on what's to come.
While it is not Microsoft that can be credited for yesterday's upgrade, ABG Sundal Collier believes the initial reactions of those who were quick to criticize Nokia for its restructuring efforts jumped the gun. As a result of the job cuts and lowered estimates, costs will be brought down to a minimum level while the company works to find its footing amongst the popular and highly competitive smartphone market.
"Nokia's radical moves on restructuring detailed last week - wrongly interpreted, in our view, as a 'profit warning' of recent kinds - should be applauded rather than criticized. Given the circumstances in which it now operates, management now takes the necessary, painful action to prepare itself for a long war of attrition vis-à-vis the Android camp," ABG Sundal Collier said in its morning report yesterday.
The research firm proceeded to lay out three elements, including restructuring measures, asset disposals and the near-term launch of Windows 8 smartphones and tablets, as the basis from which the current equity case revolves around. While much of the future is up in the air, Nokia certainly has a few positive business developments in the works that have softened the blow the company has faced as of late.
Only time will tell what direction Nokia is headed in next, but the company does have a few fans left that will stick around to find out.
NOK is currently trading around $2.50, down ~50% year-to-date, while MSFT is currently trading at around $31.00, up ~19% year-to-date.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
Disclaimer: Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.
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