Dear Mr and Mrs Nokia:
I noted that Mr. Elop recently (MWC 2013) said that you are NOT currently planning to bring out physical QWERTY phones (or talblets for that matter). Apparently someone ins some marketing department has convinced you to imitate devices already in the market, as opposed to innovating. Realising that this may not be the appropirate forum, I still venture to suggest (if to no one else than you) that Mr Elop's opinion misses the point.
One SIGNIFICANT reason I personally have not changed over to a Lumia is the lack of a slide-out QWERTY. This is in fact so important to me that I will choose my next phone (now have E7 and N9) based on this issue first and foremost.
No doubt everyone was taken aback when the iPhone came out with it's touch only concept, but that is now old hat, and certainly staring stubbornly at US market is no justification for clinging to old ideas, so:
the real justification lies in the fact that as one gets older (and we ALL do) typing with a touchscreen alone becomes much more difficult physically, no matter how responsive the screen is. The problem lies in the fact that while the screen may be accurate (and Nokia is), fingertips aren't.
The other justification lies in the E7 keyboard, which is not only accurate, very functional and exceedingly good quality but it also allows for functions that mimic a standard keyboard (ctrl buttons, fn buttons and MOST importantly on a small (=phone) screen, arrow buttons. And while everyone is running around going nuts about tablets (HIGHLY overrated as any intelligent / authentic tool) all the decent models have (at least) detachable keyboards.
Nokia made / makes quality products. IMHO however, somewhere along the way someone began to listen far to much to marketing / analysts / their own misguided fears in terms of developing leading products. Imitating what all ready is on the market, means that you are not LEADING, you are merely following. And while maps and cameras are great, usability is where Nokia needs to innovate. That, after all was the key to iPhone success. And in this day and age (as 1st and 2nd gen. users also age) QWERTY is one major aspect of usability. If anything but up a couple of innovative battery companies / patents / whatever to allow for keypad in a small / slim phone. Although; who said the latest Samsung galaxy is small?
Best wishes, lots of luck and don't forget symbian. With various tweeks the E7 I use is in fact a great phone. If only it had a better processor...
