Anssi Vanjoki says the iPhone is quite interesting but isn’t a volume product

Apple’s iPhone is an interesting product, but its sales goal is not very high, Anssi Vanjoki, the head of the multimedia unit at Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile , Research) was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Apple unveiled its much-anticipated take on the smart phone on Tuesday, presenting a sleek device with a large screen that combines a phone, an iPod and instant messaging.

"It is quite an interesting product but it is lacking a few essential features, such as 3G, which would enable fast data connections," Vanjoki, whose multimedia unit is a direct rival to Apple, was quoted as saying by Finnish business daily Taloussanomat.

Apple’s Chief Executive Steve Jobs said it could sell 10 million iPhones in 2008. This would be roughly 1 percent of the number of mobile phones forecast to be sold that year.

"Apple’s objective is not at a very high level," Vanjoki was quoted as saying.

Vanjoki said Apple’s entry would give an additional boost to the market and that the iPhone proved Nokia’s multimedia strategy was right.

"This is another piece of evidence that we have been on the right track from the beginning," he said.

Source: Reuters

I’m saving up my iPhone commentary for when I’m finished with my RSS reader. After not touching it for 7 days this is going to take me quite a few hours!