While the N81 has started shipping to a mix reception – see Stefan’s blast – one significant fact about the device seems to have been overlooked.
When Nokia announced the 7650 back in November 2001 it took 8 months for the phone to start making an appearance on retailer’s shelves. Even the N95 took about 6 months to go from launch to shipping.
By contrast the N81 was announced at the end of August and shipped before the end of October, less than 2 months.
While the lead time on S60 devices has varied, this is the clearest indication yet that the platform approach is reaping Nokia benefits and offering it the ability to turn out devices on a short timeframe. This ability will probably be key as the competition in the smartphone space heats up into 2008.
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