Nokia changing its USA business strategy

This press releases is littered with vagueness. Let’s take a look at it:

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) today announced that it will realign its North America sales and marketing organization and the management of its device business there. These changes are aimed at improving the organization’s alignment with its customers in North America in order to better meet their needs.

In a move towards building a more channel-focused organization, Nokia is redefining the roles of its device sales teams for North America and relocating most sales support people closer to customers. The device sales organization will move most of its support functions from Irving, Texas, to Nokia’s corporate facilities in White Plains, New York.

As part of the changes, Mark Louison, the current head of Nokia’s networks business in North America, has been appointed to head Nokia’s devices business in the area as of July 1, 2007. As of April 1, Mr. Louison will also become President of Nokia Inc., the North American arm of Nokia. After the realignment and relocation is complete, Tim Eckersley, the current head of Nokia’s device sales in North America, will leave his current position at the end of June. His future plans will be announced at a later date.

"The changes we announced today are designed to align us more closely with our customers in order to drive improved business results in North America," said Robert Andersson, Executive Vice President, Nokia Customer and Market Operations. "We believe these moves will enable us to reinforce our sales and marketing activities in this important market and allow us to provide our customers with some truly compelling product offerings."

All the changes announced today will start immediately, with completion expected by the end of June.

Break it down sentence by sentence:

"These changes are aimed at improving the organization’s alignment with
its customers in North America in order to better meet their needs."

Which customers? Smart phone customers? Prepaid customers? What needs do said customers have?

"In a move towards building a more channel-focused organization, Nokia
is redefining the roles of its device sales teams for North America and
relocating most sales support people closer to customers."

They used the term devices, does that mean we still aren’t going to get N series "multimedia computers?" Relocating support closer to the customers? Does this mean Nokia has a lot of support in NY? That’s funny because when I was living there everyone was on Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Channel-Focused? That could mean many things.

"We believe these moves will enable us to reinforce our sales and
marketing activities in this important market and allow us to provide
our customers with some truly compelling product offerings."

Most generic corporate statement … ever. Almost as bad as the over use of the words "synergy" and "unleash."

All the changes announced today will start immediately, with completion expected by the end of June.

So basically this press release is a change of address form and employee game of musical chairs?

My fellow S60/Nokia bloggers are probably going to chime in later today. I’m left wanting to know more details. What strategy does Nokia have that will make them gain market share here in America. Will they truly begin selling directly to consumers aka not via operators?

Too many questions left unanswered. I’m excited. They’re showing an interest.

That is always a good thing.

Photo is from 1000 Heads. From left to right we have: Steve Garfield, Rafe Blandford, Darla Mack, Teo Bartulovic and Delon Ho. They are standing in front of the Nokia Flagship store in NYC. I’m going to be there in less than 2 weeks!