Ouch: Nokia Ranked Below Palm on J.D. Power’s Smartphone Satisfaction Survey

Customer satisfaction with the iPhone is as consistent as Steve Jobs’s keynote wardrobe. For the fourth year running, Apple’s smartphone topped J.D. Power’s Smartphone Satisfaction Study, besting rivals like HTC, Research in Motion, Nokia and LG.

So much for antennagate.

Apple (AAPL) scored 800 out of 1,000 possible points–11 fewer than it was awarded last year , but still more than those awarded to its closest rivals–Motorola (MOT) and HTC, which scored 791 and 781, respectively. And its score far exceeded the industry average of 764.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for the scores of RIM (RIMM), Samsung, Palm and Nokia (NOK). J.D. Power ranked all four companies’ smartphones as below average in customer satisfaction, placing Nokia dead last, below Palm, which isn’t even an independent company anymore.

Another humiliating blow for Nokia, which continues to struggle for relevance in the smartphone market. Incoming CEO Stephen Elop has his work cut out for him.