I highly recommend reading this leaked memo from Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. It’s a brutally honest critique of the company’s recent performance. Once the dominant leader in all mobile phone segments, Elop admits that Apple has captured the high end with the iPhone, Google has captured the mid range with Android, and Chinese manufacturers are cleaning up in the budget market. Here’s my favorite excerpt:
The battle of devices has now become a war of ecosystems, where ecosystems include not only the hardware and software of the device, but developers, applications, ecommerce, advertising, search, social applications, location-based services, unified communications and many other things. Our competitors aren’t taking our market share with devices; they are taking our market share with an entire ecosystem. This means we’re going to have to decide how we either build, catalyse or join an ecosystem.
The last sentence is the most fascinating. Elop is a former Microsoft executive and Nokia is set to make a major announcement this week. People have taken this “2+2” and have come to the conclusion that Nokia will license Windows Phone 7. This would be a tremendous development for Microsoft and Nokia.
Microsoft has a compelling product on its hands with WP7, but it’s way behind iOS and Android. Despite having crap software for the last three years, Nokia still makes some of the best hardware on the market. More importantly, its global reach is second to none. The partnership would give Microsoft’s WP7 efforts an enormous boost and Nokia would finally have quality software that complements its excellent hardware. Here’s another take on the matter from VentureBeat’s “Dancing” Dean Takahashi:
A Microsoft and Nokia partnership would be beneficial to both companies. Windows Phone 7 is a surprisingly strong mobile entry for Microsoft, and if paired with Nokia’s strong hardware, it would give the company some killer phones that could compete against the iPhone and Android platforms. Microsoft, meanwhile, would be able to take advantage of Nokia’s popularity in Europe and other countries to help spread the popularity of Windows Phone 7.
Although Windows Phone 7 has some really interesting features, the hardware hasn’t grabbed my eye; almost every WP7 phone has an Android equivalent. The thought of WP7 running on something similar to a Nokia N8 has the wheels in my head spinning. That would be a truly compelling combo.
A tag team of Microsoft and Nokia would shake up the mobile phone market — big time. I hope it happens simply because it would be fascinating to watch (and write about). What do you ladies and gents think of this potential pair? Is it a match made in heaven? Or is it too little too late for both?
Microsoft knows better late than never (original xbox) to get some market share. This is pretty exciting I want to see what happens next.
I'd consider a WP7 running on excellent Nokia engineering.
I think if Nokia is to get back into the race this makes sense. I'd be even better if they could get an Android OS on their phones. I've always had a Nokia phone until 2007 it was my first so called smartphone purchase and i really miss having a nokia phone sometimes. I'd be great to see them comeback with something different.
I'd prefer Android. Google's Andy Rubin had pitched Nokia on Android. Considering where Elop used to work, Microsoft's desperate need for quality partners, and MS's ability to throw money at problems, Windows Phone 7 makes more sense.
Yeah unfortunately nokia is choosing to go with ms first. I just hope they dont make it an exclusive deal. I really like the styles of nokia's N series but that OS seems so antiquated to me.
I think WP7 makes more sense on a Nokia device honestly. Wp7 has a set of standards that must be met in order for it to be licensed. Android has some as well…but the carriers and OEMs do a lot of tweaking at the same time. WP7 just makes more sense honestly.
It's on! I can't wait to see what Nokia does with WP7!!!
I saw some stuff on CNet the other day that seemed to be leading to something like this. Now that it's official I can't wait to see what they come out with!
i can't wait to see what the sexy Nokia N8 (no not you N8!) looks like with win7!
Dang. It looks like 1,500 Nokia employees — mostly from the Symbian team — just walked out in a sign of protest.
@RAY
I guess they are Finnished.
seriously if it was the symbian ppl..oh well. That product lead to this.
Maybe this is just fiction, but didn't a similar thing happen in Apple back when the new Macintosh was revealed?…something along those lines? Or maybe I'm just remembering something from Pirates of Silicon Valley, lol.
Ultimately I'm not surprised that the Symbian team wouldn't be too thrilled about this announcement because it just means everything they have been doing for years now is completely worthless.