Project Finland: Let me elaborate my master plan
By Stefan Constantinescu on Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 at 10:04 PM PST In Ideas and rants
I once proclaimed on my blog that I love Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Tommi Vilkamo was quick to respond that a company can’t love you back. Why is that?
Companies these days try to push their brand a little too hard in my opinion. The human aspect, that real connection, is what most international corporations lack. When Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) started their Channel 9 project I immediately got hooked. The company was no longer composed of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, but real developers who would explain concepts on a white board and break down what decisions were made and why, on whatever project they happened to be working on. I watched the creation, the struggles and the shipping party for Windows Vista all on that one website. In the beginning it was about the demos, that’s the instant gratification of seeing something cool, but things started getting interesting when you created a thread telling people why you think a feature stinks and how it could be improved upon. One Note is on my list of the top 5 pieces of software ever written and I got a chance to have a conversation with several members of the team developing it.
How great does that feel? How awesome would it be if you could attach a list of names to your favorite device? The designers, the testers, the engineers.
Here is a fun fact: In 2006 Nokia spent almost 4 Billion Euros on research, that is 500 Million Euros more than what they spent on sales and marketing. Don’t you want to know what some of those projects are?
Project Finland is simple. I want to bridge that connection between the Nokia enthusiast and Nokia as a company. Topics would range from devices, operating systems, the research teams and even the networks. The majority of Nokia employees are situated in Finland, so why not go directly to the source?
I know what you’re thinking, can’t I just send them an email? Nothing on earth will ever replace real live human interaction. The Mikko Röntynen I saw on stage at the S60 Summit in Spain isn’t the same guy who I sat down with at a pub in New York City. Phil Schwarzmann does a fantastic job with his Voice of S60 podcast, but it isn’t enough to quench my appetite for knowledge. By limiting himself to S60 related matters he restricts the amount of content available. I know Series 40 has absolutely nothing to do with S60, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to know more about it!
Back to Finland however, it was a country I knew nothing about until I started Ring Nokia. Finding articles that cross pollinated information about the world’s cell phone leader and this Nordic country with a population hovering around 5 million became a daily occurrence. It wasn’t long before I started reading more about Suomi just so I can put Nokia’s history into context. Around 4 months ago when I had a chance to meet a Finn for the first time at CES 2007, that was when I knew this was a country I had to scoop out.
I don’t remember her name, but I do recall the long line of people asking her the same question over and over again: What are the specs of the Nokia N93i? I think she was a little bit stunned when I broke the cycle and actually asked her how the flight was. We ended up having a 15 minute conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with the phone in her hands, but instead centered around her country of origin. My interest was growing exponentially and I knew this is somewhere I wanted to visit.
Here are my plans for project Finland thus far:
- I personally want to save up 10,000 Euros and then look for people who want to help me rebuild Ring Nokia from the ground up.
- Advertising will be placed around my content, but it has to be extremely relevant.
- I will try my best to find a job in Helsinki, but if I could live off advertising revenue and keep on doing what I love, writing, then the more content I can produce.
- I’m not looking to become rich off Ring Nokia, not at all. I just want to surround myself with like minded individuals who are open to enjoying meaningful conversations and debates on a variety of topics. Learning new things is fun, learning how people perceive things differently than you do is priceless.
- I will attempt to reach the top 2 phone resellers I currently know of: Carphone Warehouse and Expansys, to see if they are interested in such a project.
- The average Finn makes 30,000 Euros a year, if I can achieve that then the rest of my salary can go back into the hands of my sponsors or to charities. I can’t emphasize enough that this is about the experience, not the bank statements.
- My initial capital investment would need to be around 6,000 Euros. One high end desktop, one ultra portable laptop, one camcorder.
- Ring Nokia turns one year old on November 19, 2007. If I could be there by that time then I know I will achieved success.
Nokia isn’t going to sponsor something like this. I don’t even know if I’m a dot on their radar, but with the right resources and dedication I think I could make a name for myself.
Why does the world need such a blog?
- Differentiation: Cell phone blogs fall into two categories: too general or too specific. Ring Nokia is neither and I will never try to be a blog about cell phones; that market is saturated.
- Omnipresence: Nokia is so large that I have had several employees thank me for covering what the company is doing as a whole as opposed to knowing what is merely happening within their department.
- Perspective: As an outsider looking in I’m inherently going to have different views about what this company is doing than the people inside it. If you stay somewhere long enough you lose touch with the rest of the world around you. No one is talking about the fact that the CEO keeps confirming he wants to increase presence in America, yet the quarter results indicate that a massive reduction (20%) of employees is taking place in the US.
- Appreciation: A market share of nearly 36% doesn’t happen by accident, there are a lot of people who love Nokia and want to know more about the brand. Most will only care about the phones, but there will always be a select few who want to know everything they possibly can.
- Debate and enlightenment: With such focus on one company, the debate will begin from Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE), Samsung, LG, etc fans. They love certain aspects of their devices that Nokia’s do not have. Let them voice their frustration and maybe Nokia can learn from them. I for one am amazed that as a baseline phone OS, S40 is more comprehensive than S60.
It will be difficult, but if it was easy someone would have started a blog like this a long time ago.
Thoughts? Comments? Questions?
Update: I think I sparked some confusion. Greenteeth thinks I’m asking my readers for cash, this is not the case at all. I’m just laying out where I want Ring Nokia to be in a few months to a year and trying to locate companies who want to help me achieve this realization.
Well well…now that you elaborate a little…it makes a lot more sense. A much needed fulfillment of ’substance’ as it were…
I knew what you were trying to say this morning, but I asked the question I did because sometimes you maybe rush to the end of your thoughts and type it out on your blog without interpreting and laying down the context of the middle distance, know what I mean? You end up stating what makes perfect sense to you, but not to the rest of us who are not familiar with the inner machinations of your bright mind
Still, I dont know who would solely sponsor this venture – unless you could directly help them back in some way. Partial funding from a variety of sources might be your best bet.
After your meetings with various Nokia personnel, how do you feel about them vouching for you as a Nokian?
I try to keep emotions and ‘but he tries so hard’ scenarios out of my thoughts, as far as you personally are concerned. I found your blog a few months ago and enjoyed the proficient manner of your writing. While I do find you completely lacking in non-Nokia matters (a little gregariousness in seeking out pertinent developments in companies such as Motorola [market share competition] and Sony Ericsson [more historically traditional competition] would be nice), what you already bring together, create and comment on makes for persuasive website visiting on my part.
I personally never take anything for granted. I get particularly suspicious when I find things going my way for no particular reason. And I leave the room when I find I dont have anything personally meaningful to discuss with any of its occupants. Why am I telling you this? I dont know! But I would like to see you do well.
Blog long and prosper.
thanks geekonimus. nice to see a treky too.
No offense but the last few posts have sounded pretty desperate. Rather than working toward your dreams your asking “people” to bank roll your dream. Your very bright and ambitious but achieving your dreams requires a bit more grit than your previous two posts prove your capable of. Dreams aren’t easy to achieve as you already know but “working” towards them will allow the chance for them to become a reality. Deliver pizzas, Mow lawns, tutor, cook, bar tend, wait tables……anything, everything…but don’t beg! It’s not very becoming. =(
(and these posts are truly begging…)
Didn’t mean to give off that impression greenteeth. I’m already in the processes of saving around 10k euros like i said, 9 more to go!
I just want to rebuild my site with an ad revenue system in place. Finding people who want to advertise isn’t anything wrong it is?
Perhaps I was a bit harsh and I apologize. Recruiting advertisers is the number one thing you should be doing considering all the momentum you seem to be gaining. I guess the “wouldn’t it be nice if someone reading this would just bank roll my way to Finland” was just dreaming aloud and considering it’s YOUR blog who am I to say you are wrong. Like many of us I’ve got RSS feeds up the yin yang but your blog allows me to be a bit lazy as you cover so many things and I do appreciate that.
Perhaps I’m a bit jaded when it comes to work as well…Direct quote from my Father (retired Army Colonel)
Proactive: If you need someone to tell you do something your a waste and probably always will be.
While I don’t agree with that completely it’s obvious it had some residual effect on me. =)
“Update: I think I sparked some confusion. Greenteeth thinks I’m asking my readers for cash, this is not the case at all. I’m just laying out where I want Ring Nokia to be in a few months to a year and trying to locate companies who want to help me achieve this realization.”
….I wasn’t under the impression that you were looking for your average reader to cough up some cash. I guess the confusion was more or less the “dream” aspect of it. Your willing to work and save to achieve the dream but in the meantime, if some company wishes to bankroll the future of ringnokia then why the hell not? =) …and like I said before, it’s your site, it’s your prerogative! ;-}
Hi Stefan,
“I once proclaimed on my blog that I love Nokia and Tommi Vilkamo was quick to respond that a company can’t love you back. Why is that?”
– because a company is not a living thinking being. As much as this may seem to be the case in America (see The Corporation-The movie http://www.thecorporation.com/).
- then you mention
“Companies these days try to push their brand a little too hard in my opinion.”
and then:
“there are a lot of people who love Nokia and want to know more about the brand. Most will only care about the phones, but there will always be a select few who want to know everything they possibly can.”
The second part is correct.
Nokia is building its future (and present of course!) on its brand. People like Nokia (products). People understand Nokia (products).
Therefore they are possibly more willing to take Nokia future products and use them…
my ideas anyway…
and honestly, the more I think of it, a company cannot love a person…
slán,
bernard
More often than not, you do copy and paste other bloggers’ words – often entire posts – into your own page. Given, you do link to them, and introduce and often close the post with a sentence of your own. However, if you’re going to make a business of being *the* relevant Nokia news aggregator, I’d reevaluate the revenue model you put in place before you launch a method to make money *directly* off the words of others, within your own site. People love it when you link to them, sure… but if you copy and paste their entire post, you’re no longer sending them traffic; your taking it. Referencing is one thing, but you may find some people wondering feel you deserve to make a living off their entire posts.
Once again, I encourage you to post thoughtful, original posts of your own. Your readers want to hear you – you’re a sharp guy and have a lot to say. Please don’t think I’m trying to discourage growth of this site, by any means. On the contrary; I wanna make sure you find success in the community that enjoys your blog.
We’ll be rooting for you!
Andrew: I really want to get rid of the title “Nokia News Aggregator.” Nothing would make me more happy than to bring my readers interviews and coverage of events. I want to report as a job, not as a hobby. That’s the point of this project. If I’m going to be a subway ride away from Nokia HQ in Espoo, imagine the stuff I could cover?