Before Anssi Vanjoki's parting keynote at Nokia World 2010, the firm's EVP of Markets – Niklas Savander – took to the stage and, in no uncertain terms, took aim at almost every one of the company's rivals.

Apple, of course, was squarely in his sights, with Savander using footage of VP of iOS software Scott Forstall proclaiming iPhone's FaceTime as a way of connecting people to play down the company's role in the smartphone business.

"For Nokia, it’s more than just a feel-good tagline," Savander said, making reference to the similarities between Forstall's comments and Nokia's own slogan.

"It's a passion. The world includes 1.3 billion 'Nokia people'. Our vision of connecting people becomes more relevant every day."

Strong Symbian sales

If sales are anything to go by, then Savander would seem to have a point.

According to in house stats, Nokia is selling 260,000 smartphones a day – a number Savander believes confirms that Symbian is still on top, shifting more units than iOS and Android combined.

"That's 260,000 new smartphones," he added. "We didn't add software updates, or sales of music players and computers to that number."

Adding that Nokia's new smartphone – the Symbian^3 powered N8 – will work "day in, day out, no matter how you hold it", Savander's speech seemed designed to show that the Finnish firm is no longer threatened by its new found rivals.

Pride in battle

In short, it's not going to change the way it does things simply to steal back market share.

"We're not going to apologise for the fact we're not Apple or Google or Samsung, or anyone else," he said.

"We're Nokia. Our market is the world, and when it comes to our customers we know that just one device will not satisfy all of them.

"Even at the high end, offering people just one model will lead to compromises, whether it's compromises with the camera, the browser, the keyboard, or the phone itself."

As such, Savander confirmed that Nokia will continue to offer multiple handsets pitched at entirely different markets, adding that Apple's model of offering just one device will, eventually, end in tears.

"Today is about three words," he concluded. "Nokia is back."