Employees warned Nokia management: the announcement of the first iPhone smartphone would lead to the collapse of the company

Recently released archives revealed secret information that the day after the iPhone launch, several Nokia employees gave an internal presentation warning that Apple's new smartphone posed a serious threat to the company. However, Nokia's top management did not respond to this warning and as a result, in just seven years, the company went from a market leader to an outsider.

At the time of the iPhone's release in 2007, Nokia was the leader in the mobile market with a share of about 50%. At that time, its phones, as 9to5Mac reminds us, were considered not only technologically advanced, but also fashionable – this brand was preferred by young people. However, the launch of the iPhone, which replaced the usual keyboard with a touchscreen, became a revolution. Apple quickly gained the status of “ cool ” companies, and Nokia began to lose ground.

A presentation prepared by a team of nine Nokia employees emphasized that the new iPhone interface could set new standards in the industry:

«iPhone – is a serious competitor. Its touch interface promises unparalleled ease of use, and the integration of Internet applications looks flawless. Nokia needs to develop its own touch interface to avoid losing».

Despite the dire predictions, Nokia's top managers did not take the team's warning seriously. At the same time, as analyst John Gruber notes, the presentation did not take into account such aspects as the revolutionary role of mobile applications and Internet access, which became key to the success of the iPhone. Nevertheless, the use of at least a touch interface could significantly change Nokia's fate.