Supplemental In-Depth Integrative Case

Nokia Targets the Base of the Pyramid
One of the most widely used clichés in the world of business is the so-called 80/20 rule. In the realm of sales, the rule is sometimes interpreted as “80 percent of our sales come from 20 percent of our customers.”1 One recent business theory that has challenged this rule is the so called BOP or Bottom of the Pyramid perspective, developed and popularized by C.K. Prahalad.2 It refers to the around 4 billion people at the bottom of the economic pyramid with a purchasing power of US$2,000 per year or less. Prahalad and colleagues have proposed that these low-income consumers represent great potential but require a unique mix of pricing, promotion, low cost delivery, and effective communication in order to successfully reach.3 The key to selling to BOP consumers is that an MNC strategy be affordable, accessible, and socially driven. Nokia is one company that is taking this perspective seriously. Business interest in BOP markets is rising. Multinational companies have been leaders in this trend, especially in food and consumer products. And large national companies have also taken a leadership role, proving to be among the most innovative in meeting the needs of BOP consumers and producers, especially in such sectors as housing, agriculture, consumer goods, and financial services. And small start-ups and social entrepreneurs focusing on BOP markets are rapidly growing in number. But perhaps the strongest and most dramatic BOP leadership success story is mobile telephony.4
The Global ICT Market

The measured BOP market for ICT—information and communication technologies and the services they provide—is $30.5 billion for Africa (11 countries), Asia (9), Eastern Europe (6), and Latin America and the Caribbean (9). This represents annual household ICT spending in the 35 lowand middle-income