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Nokia boss Stephen Elop is the focus of investor ire, as people with a financial stake in the company have reportedly blasted his laser-focus on the Windows Phone operating system.
An annual general meeting in Helsinki saw Nokia’s Lumia devices come under fire, as one investor told Elop, “Are you aware that results are what matter?” according to a Reuters report.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” shareholder Hannu Virtanen is quoted as saying. “Please switch to another road.” The report claims that many of those with a stake in Nokia are equally displeased.
The problem stems from the Finnish firm’s failure to trump Apple and Samsung in the smart phone wars. In 2011 Elop, who previously worked at Microsoft, allied the company to Windows Phone and set the firm to churning out Lumia mobiles.
While nowhere near as popular as gadgets like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S3, there is evidence that Lumia phones are gathering momentum — Nokia shifted 5.6 million of its colourful mobiles in the first three months of 2013.
Investors are likely concerned, however, that sales numbers aren’t ramping up fast enough, and that Nokia may have made a fatal error when it ignored Android, which has given companies like Samsung, LG and Sony a platform to compete with Apple.
Elop reportedly responded to irate investors, saying, “It’s very clear to us that in today’s war of ecosystems, we’ve made a very clear decision to focus on Windows Phone with our Lumia product line.”
Nokia is expected to unveil one or more new Lumia mobiles at an event next Tuesday. Stay tuned to CNET, as we’ll be providing in-depth coverage of everything the company has to show.
Should Nokia have opted for Android? Or will the Lumia line eventually rescue the ailing corporation? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
