Nokia EVP Anssi Vanjoki had stated earlier this week that adopting Android was a short-term solution to a long term problem. Well that does not technically imply that Nokia is planning to stick to Symbian and MeeGo alone to compete against the likes of iPhone and Android handsets. According to a report on the VentureBeat, Stephen Elop; the new CEO of Nokia has given the go-ahead for his team to explore Windows Phone 7 as a possible platform alternative for their handsets.
With Symbian enjoying continued patronage from Nokia, the arrival of Windows Phone 7 handsets could mean Nokia could be compromising on its MeeGo adoption. Of course, these are still speculations at the moment. However it is unlikely for Espoo to compromise on Symbian given the high popularity of the platform in Europe and Asia.
One reply on “Nokia Windows Phone 7 Smartphones In The Works?”
This make perfect sense for Nokia. Nokia is good in hardware and early indications show that WP7 will rule. The only way Nokia can survive is to adopt WP7 or Android . It would be good to stay with WP7 right now, because of several reasons
1) Android cannot be a choice anyway because at the low end market Nokia needs to compete with Android phones in the market.
2) So far indications, WP7 will be nothing short of a blockbuster. Microsoft with its strengths of cash and infrastructure within two three years they can easily ensure that WP7 survives.
3) Android market is getting too fragmented and compared to the 15$ license fees MS charges, development over Android is much costlier.
4) Nokia gets an out – of- the- box platform which is guaranteed success, at the same time they have enough scope for differentiation. XBOX-Zune-Office integration itself is a pure sell.
5) It’s hard to believe Nokia can turn around Meego or Symbian which can compete with Android or iPhone. Even if they do , by the time they do it, market have moved ahead.
So nothing insane about this. Then there are Droid fans , MS fans, Apple fans, Symbian fans Meego fans either trying to save jobs or trying to save investments. But day by day its becoming clearer that Android and WP7 will be the remaining platforms in the race. Of which I see possibly WP7 will emerge as the leading platform in 4 years timeframe. In two years’ time Android may put up a show , but compared to the infrastructure MS can put up and money they can throw at this, it’s difficult to assume Android emerging as the main platform. MS has the inherent capability to chase and beat, its proven time and again. One can argue it happened only in PC, but it seems that’s happening everywhere now take XBOX take Silverlight . There are failed project with MS but they had either stopped at very early stage, and if they continue they are formidable force. I believe MS will never discontinue WP7 as its going to be their bread and butter for the next several years. There is an early advantage for Microsoft if Nokia adopts WP7, but for Nokia it’s going to be last chance in the smartphone segment !