Dear Nokia...

I haven't blogged here in a while. Today I'm back because I've spent weeks researching, what else? Cell phones... again.

I spent over a year with my Nokia E75. And it was okay. Except the screen was really small and I wanted apps. Everyone around me had apps. I wanted them too. But I didn't want an iPhone because I really think it's a lot of hype and I hate a virtual keyboard. I decided to give Android a shot. I went on Ebay and ordered a used Android phone (the HTC Magic) that I THOUGHT had a slider keyboard only to receive it and realize I was wrong about that. I had confused it with another similar HTC phone. Oh well. Once I had it I figured I would use it to see if I could get used to a virtual keyboard and to try the Android platform on for size.

My phone came rooted with Android 2.2 (Froyo). I've now had it about 2 months. I have to say that I'm glad I bought a used phone to play with because it's allowed me to come up with a new wishlist for my dream phone. If someone made a great Android phone with a slide out keyboard I might be willing to run up some of my credit for it.

Android is a dream. I love all the apps. I love the versatility and customizability of the features. I highly recommend it. The HTC Magic, is not such a great phone and it doesn't play nice with AT&T but I'm not here to talk about that phone. If you aren't a fan of the iPhone, try to find an Android phone you do like. You'll be happy. However, that's where my current problem comes in.

Too many cell phone companies are trying to make their phones just like the iPhone. That means the sleek screen and no tactile keyboard. I hate the virtual keyboard. For some reason T-Mobile is the only company that understands that people actually want a keyboard and they have more sliders and bar phones than the other carriers. They also have inferior service. I wouldn't switch to them from AT&T (though my feelings for ATT have seriously deteriorated in recent years as well).

Before ordering my HTC Magic I had ordered a Nokia N900, precisely because I thought I might be getting the best of both worlds. A nice touch screen, a real keyboard and all the power and reliability I've come to trust from Nokia. Plus I like a smartphone that actually IS a smartphone. I want a mini computer at my fingertips. I thought it would take care of all my phone woes. Sadly, I had to send it back the day after I got it. What an incredible disappointment. It is so behind the times, I don't even want to spend time going over the details. It's embarrassing. What's worse is that Nokia is hellbent on developing their own OS. This phone came with Maemo. I couldn't find any apps for Maemo on day 1 and after contacting their customer service, it became clear that the platform was experimental and unsupported. The minute that became clear I shipped it back. I wasn't going to be stuck with a phone that had a dead OS.

So back to the present dilemma. Thanks to Nokia's short-sightedness, I am now thoroughly enchanted with the Android platform. My new dream phone wishlist would start with Nokia's vision of mini phone computers, add their crystalline call quality, durable phone parts, loud speakerphone technology and incredible camera incorporation. Then, instead of filling it with their crappy attempts at platform development, it would come loaded with Android and a sweet slide out keyboard. I would happily buy such a phone. And, judging from the posts on forums all over the internet, so would a lot of other people.

So, hoping that the cell phone Gods are scouring the Net, here is my plea:


Dear Nokia,

Make me the perfect Android phone. I promise not to call you a sell out. You can still keep trying to write a better platform. Maybe you'll even succeed. But in the meantime, just don't experiment with me and then hang me out to dry.

Make a killer Android phone already. Your stock prices are dropping.

Thank you.

--Seel