'Microsoft Surface' is dead, 'Nokia Lumia' lives

[saintforlife]

Exactly what the title says.

Microsoft is killing off the surface brand for the Lumia brand and attempting to License Nokia for their smartphones

This is pretty exciting: Microsoft is reportedly in the final stages of licensing the Nokia brand, for the purpose of calling the handsets “Nokia by Microsoft.” Furthermore, say goodbye to Surface, and hello to Lumia, as the tablet lineup faces brand streamlining.

http://evleaks.at/2014/06/28/pretty-exciting-microsoft-reportedly-final-stages-licensing-nokia-brand-purpose-calling-handsets-nokia-microsoft-furthermore-say-goodbye-surface/

 

[Lloydbm41]

Good. Microsoft continues to make all the right moves now that we have a competent CEO making decisions.

Gotta wonder if we may see Lumia Slate, LumiaPad, Lumia Tablet, Lumia Surface, Lumia Pro?

 

[sracer]

Meh. A rose by any other name....

Changing the name or the brand is not going to resolve the issues with the Surface line.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Meh. A rose by any other name....

Changing the name or the brand is not going to resolve the issues with the Surface line.

Maybe you haven't read the reviews on the Surface Pro 3?

 

[AppleScruff1]

I'm actually surprised that they would change the name of the Surface tablets to Lumia. I had read a few months ago that they were going to change the name of the phones from Nokia to Surface at some point in the future. IMO, they should keep the phones Lumia and the tablets Surface. Changing either one is going to lead to more confusion and they already have enough with the Surface running Windows RT and the Surface Pro running Windows 8. Now they are going to rename the tablets Lumia? Not a good move.

 

[jamezr]

I'm actually surprised that they would change the name of the Surface tablets to Lumia. I had read a few months ago that they were going to change the name of the phones from Nokia to Surface at some point in the future. IMO, they should keep the phones Lumia and the tablets Surface. Changing either one is going to lead to more confusion and they already have enough with the Surface running Windows RT and the Surface Pro running Windows 8. Now they are going to rename the tablets Lumia? Not a good move.

I was going to say the same thing....they need to build brand name recognition around great products. But if they keep changing the name it will be hard for consumers to identify with the brand.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I was going to say the same thing....they need to build brand name recognition around great products. But if they keep changing the name it will be hard for consumers to identify with the brand.

That's how I see it. The Lumia name is known in the phone world and has been for a couple of decades. Changing it is going to hurt sales. Licensing the name is the smart way to go, IMO. Changing the name of the Surface tablet is idiotic, again, IMO. They have enough problems selling them as it is, now they want to change the name and try explaining that to customers on top of the two different versions of Windows on the tablets and having Windows phone as an OS too? I think they should have two OS's, one for phones and tablets and the regular version of Windows. They could call one Windows Mobile 8 or Windows 8 Mobile and the other Windows 8. Or something to that effect to differentiate the two. Three different versions is suicidal.

 

[Vegastouch]

That's how I see it. The Lumia name is known in the phone world and has been for a couple of decades. Changing it is going to hurt sales. Licensing the name is the smart way to go, IMO. Changing the name of the Surface tablet is idiotic, again, IMO. They have enough problems selling them as it is, now they want to change the name and try explaining that to customers on top of the two different versions of Windows on the tablets and having Windows phone as an OS too? I think they should have two OS's, one for phones and tablets and the regular version of Windows. They could call one Windows Mobile 8 or Windows 8 Mobile and the other Windows 8. Or something to that effect to differentiate the two. Three different versions is suicidal.

You mean the Nokia name has been around for a couple decades. Lumia has only been around for about 3-4 years. The Microsoft name has been around longer than Nokia but Nokia has always made great phones. That is the name they should stick with on phones and perhaps tablets. The Surface name has a place too.
Maybe they should shut down the Surface RT name and use Nokia as a tablet and keep the Surface name dropping tehe Pro and have it as a tablet/computer like the SP3.

 

[AppleScruff1]

You mean the Nokia name has been around for a couple decades. Lumia has only been around for about 3-4 years. The Microsoft name has been around longer than Nokia but Nokia has always made great phones. That is the name they should stick with on phones and perhaps tablets. The Surface name has a place too.
Maybe they should shut down the Surface RT name and use Nokia as a tablet and keep the Surface name dropping tehe Pro and have it as a tablet/computer like the SP3.

Thanks for catching that, I did mean Nokia. Whatever they do with the Surface and changing names, they better be really careful. They've confused consumers enough. I still think they need to drop one OS and have Windows 8 and Windows Mobile.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I'm actually surprised that they would change the name of the Surface tablets to Lumia. I had read a few months ago that they were going to change the name of the phones from Nokia to Surface at some point in the future. IMO, they should keep the phones Lumia and the tablets Surface. Changing either one is going to lead to more confusion and they already have enough with the Surface running Windows RT and the Surface Pro running Windows 8. Now they are going to rename the tablets Lumia? Not a good move.

And yet people seem to be fine with iPad, iPod, iPhone, and iMac?

But somehow, Lumia Phone and Lumia Tablet will be to complex?

 

[ItHurtsWhenIP]

And yet people seem to be fine with iPad, iPod, iPhone, and iMac?

But somehow, Lumia Phone and Lumia Tablet will be to complex?

If it didn't come out of Cupertino, it's not the right way to do it. Remember?

 

[MozMan68]

Haha...EV Leaks....I'll believe it when I see it (regarding Surface)

The only thing they will change is the "Nokia by Microsoft" part and that portion of their tweet has already been widely reported.

 

[maflynn]

Interesting news, though I kind of like the Surface Pro name and the SP3 is looking to be like a good tablet. Much more positive spin and reviews then its predecessors

 

[Nabooly]

I'd guess it's because of the overwhelming negative feedback on the Surfaces. It's probably gotten to a point where changing the name is necessary to repair all the damage caused by S1 & S2.

 

[AppleScruff1]

And yet people seem to be fine with iPad, iPod, iPhone, and iMac?

But somehow, Lumia Phone and Lumia Tablet will be to complex?

IMO, since Apple has had those names from the beginning, it's not confusing. Microsoft came out of the gate with the Surface and had people confused since it ran Windows RT. Then the Surface Pro came out and and it ran Windows 8. Then they stopped marketing it as Windows RT. People see Windows, they think they are buying Windows. Sales of the Surface tablets are poor to begin with. Now they change the name. What is going to happen? Even more people going to Apple and buying an iPad. Again, just my opinion, but a big mistake. And they are still using three different versions of Windows where Apple has two somewhat distinct operating systems.

----------

Haha...EV Leaks....I'll believe it when I see it (regarding Surface)

The only thing they will change is the "Nokia by Microsoft" part and that portion of their tweet has already been widely reported.

This is what I'm thinking too. I read an article a couple of months back where the Nokia name was going to go away, and they were considering calling it the Surface phone. Now they must have changed their minds. Losing the Nokia name would have killed phone sales for Microsoft, especially in Europe.

 

[Cod3rror]

Lumia is such a terrible name. I was hoping they'd be keeping the Surface name instead.

 

[roadbloc]

Interesting move. Microsoft have pretty much taken control of Nokia it seems.

 

[spinedoc77]

All that marketing to go to waste, hmm. When they finally get it right with the surface pro 3, now they are going to throw away that brand recognition. Worse, IMO, is these tablets will now have that awful ugly Nokia look, bleh.

 

[balamw]

I suspect that Surface Pro will still be Surface Pro, and only the RT tablets will become Lumia.

B

 

[GoingDark]

It makes perfect sense that Microsoft would want to keep using the Nokia name for their handsets - especially in places like Europe, the Nokia brand carries far more weight than the Microsoft brand.

As for Lumia replacing Surface as the tablet brand going forward, I think Surface will stick around for "pro" devices and Lumia will take over for Windows RT devices when Windows RT/Windows Phone converge into one platform (according to the rumours anyway).
It makes sense if Microsoft plans to have one platform for ARM devices (Windows Phone/RT) that carries the Lumia brand, and another for for full-fledged x86 Windows devices.

 

[Vegastouch]

Speaking of the Lumia...when the hec is the 930 going to come out in the USA? Whats the holdup? Ive read it was supposed to be out in June.

 

[MozMan68]

Speaking of the Lumia...when the hec is the 930 going to come out in the USA? Whats the holdup? Ive read it was supposed to be out in June.

I would assume they gave Verizon some sort of exclusivity with the Icon before letting the other carriers offer basically the same phone.

I hope it is soon though....as much as I love my 1520, the 5" form factor would serve me better....especially now that I'm getting the Surface Pro 3. I just can't (okay, won't) leave AT&T.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Speaking of the Lumia...when the hec is the 930 going to come out in the USA? Whats the holdup? Ive read it was supposed to be out in June.

I gave up waiting and got a 925 for $150 off contract from TMo to hold me over til the iphone6 comes out. The 1520 is just too big.

 

[Vegastouch]

I gave up waiting and got a 925 for $150 off contract from TMo to hold me over til the iphone6 comes out. The 1520 is just too big.

I almost got a 925 as well on eBay but think i want to hold out for a 930 and its 5" screen. Its being announced in other countries. I dont know why they give carriers exclusives on a phone. I guess they get more money for that but it doesnt make sense to do that now on a Windows phone.

I doubt Verizon is getting new customers for having that phone. Most people care about price and Verizon is the highest of them all.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I almost got a 925 as well on eBay but think i want to hold out for a 930 and its 5" screen. Its being announced in other countries. I dont know why they give carriers exclusives on a phone. I guess they get more money for that but it doesnt make sense to do that now on a Windows phone.

I doubt Verizon is getting new customers for having that phone. Most people care about price and Verizon is the highest of them all.

Well I was going to buy the 635 for $130, but then saw that they had a 925 for just $15 more, so it was a no brainer. Only thing I will miss is being able to load apps on the SD card. I'm fine with the 4.5" screen since my Moto X is 4.7".
Ideally, I would have preferred the 930, but I'm tired of the carrier exclusivity b.s. and then 'hoping' the phone comes to T-Mobile. Chances are the iPhone6 will be on TMo before the 930, so I'm saving my pennies up for that phone. And given the choice, I'd pick the iPhone over the 930 since I already have 4 windows phones.