Nokia responds to iPhone by Promoting 'Open'

An anonymous reader writes "Nokia has responded instantly to the iPhone update-bricking fiasco by running a series of flyposter ads pointing out its own hardware and software is open. While this is to be applauded, it'd be better if companies like this opened their products because they truly believed in openness, rather than to beat the competition over the head. After all, Apple itself used open source with OS X (kernel, web browser) mainly because they knew it would irritate Microsoft. Since that initial blow, they've been a lot less eager to promote open source."

Comments

irritating ms

[pohl]

After all, Apple itself used open source with OS X (kernel, web browser) mainly because they knew it would irritate Microsoft

Really...I don't recall Apple even being involved at the moment that architectural decision was made. Or are you saying that this was the reason Apple acquired NeXT instead of Be? To irritate the Beast of Redmond? So tragic that historical accuracy is just a few clicks away, and still it eludes everybody.

Companies exist to make money

[cliffski]

" it'd be better if companies like this opened their products because they truly believed in openness, rather than to beat the competition over the head"

The purpose of a company is generally to make money, not to crusade for some political stance. The investors want a good return on their investment, not a philosophy. You are living in a dream world if you think the number 1 aim of most companies isn't to maximise their profits. Any kind of 'belief' about open or closed source etc is very much a secondary concern, and always will be. If it wasn't they would quickly find themselves losing market share and customers to the the competition.

Re:So, does this mean they'll all be unlocked?

[Javi0084]

I believe you can buy unlocked phones directly from Nokia. If you buy it from a telco, you are buying a phone locked by the telco themselves.