INTERVIEW
SHAUN DURANDT
GM, NOKIA SOUTH AFRICA
With Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Nokia’s Devices &
Services Division, we thought it a good a time as any to
sit down with Shaun Durandt, Nokia South Africa’s newly
appointed GM, to discuss upcoming changes and the
impact of Windows Phone devices on the local market.
TechSmart (TS): Microsoft is acquiring Nokia’s Devices & Services business,
including the Lumia smartphone and Asha feature phone brands. What
does this mean for local Nokia fans going forward?
Shaun Durandt (SD): Firstly, it is important to note that the proposed
deal for Microsoft to acquire Nokia’s Devices and Services business
won’t be concluded until early next year. Our focus for the next six
months is firmly business as usual. We have a number of new devices,
support elements and apps in the pipeline and execution on this will
continue.
Secondly, the teams who design, produce and support Nokia phones
would transfer to Microsoft. All of this said, Nokia will continue to produce great devices, apps and software updates as a result.
TS: Google Play offers more than 800 000 applications whilst Apple’s
App Store houses more than ?????????5??????e?]??????A????)M???????????????????????Q???????????????????????????????)1?????????)M??%??????????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????)???????d???????]????????????????5?????????????????????????)??????????%????????????????UL????????????????????????????(?????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????M???????????????)QL??Q???9?????1????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????
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