Nokia is taking off the gloves, throwing down the gauntlet and issuing a very public challenge. After falling behind Apple in the burgeoning smartphone market the Finnish company has vowed to overtake Apple's iPhone and become the world's largest touch-screen phone maker.
The Scandinavian marvel's share of the smartphone market went from 51.4% in the third quarter of 2007 to 39% one year later while Apples sales blossomed from one million units in 2007 to seven million in the same time period and with a market share of 17.3%.
This official, risky and public challenge has been precipitated in part by the lack of touch-screen devices from Nokia. CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo claims that they are 'coming on with a vengeance' and will soon add its portfolio of two touch-screen models. Apple founder Steve Jobs is thought to be losing weight in worry.