In the late 1990s and early 2000s, one name was synonymous with mobile phones: Nokia. The Finnish giant wasn’t just a market leader; it was an icon. Its devices were renowned for their durability, battery life, and simple functionality. Owning a Nokia, whether it was the indestructible 3310 or the sleek N-Gage, was a rite of passage. Yet, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, the company’s dominance evaporated, leading to one of the most dramatic corporate collapses in history. So, what happened? How did a company that held nearly 50% of the global mobile phone market go from king to casualty?
The story of Nokia’s downfall is a complex tapestry woven with threads of strategic missteps, technological stagnation, and a failure to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. It’s a cautionary tale for any business, regardless of its size or industry.