A lot of people are wondering why Nokia didn't choose to go with Android. How can Nokia differentiate themselves when Android is a lot more open and free than Windows Phone 7? As usual, the key to this is in the details. If you read the announcements carefully, you'll see that Microsoft offered Nokia something Google most likely didn't. Update: What a surprise. Elop just confirmed Nokia has a special deal with Microsoft. Whereas HTC, Samsung, and so on are not allowed to customise WP7 - Nokia is, further confirming my theory.
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Member since:2005-06-29
Wishful thinking. They'd have to rewrite their own changes every time Google released a new version. They'd still have no influence over Android's future. They'd still be at the mercy of what Google does. They'd create a different Android version and bring in application incompatibilities.
With this deal, they get to shape WP7 AS IT DEVELOPS, as an INTEGRAL partner. THAT is the key.
Member since:2005-07-06
They don't get to shape anything. No one is ever an integral partner with Microsoft because all Nokia will be is an OEM. This is a well trodden path.
I'm curious as to why you think they will have some kind of influence of Windows Phone, or whatever the damn thing is called these days, when they can do actual development with Android and at least plough a lot of their own furrow. The apps stores today are also the iPhone first and Android second. Developers and users don't want a third. There's just no point.
I bet Microsoft can't believe it's luck and Nokia's desperation. This will finish Nokia off and keep Windows on mobiles on a little bit of life support.
Member since:2010-02-08
Member since:2005-07-06
Wrong!!!! They can fork the current version of Android and move on with own changes with new name for OS! They have nothing to do with google once they fork the current android branch and create a new OS like Nokidroid!
With WP7 they should not expect to penetrate the upper smart phone market as that market has big boss sitting like iphone and galaxy S and many LG,Samsung, Htc WP7 phones. They need to show they are different in that segment!
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2010-02-08
So? They have Ovi maps, Ovi store, etc. There is also community port of Qt to Android which already works quite well. If they finished it and installed on their phones by default, Symbian/Qt developers would have path forward. Sure, it would segment Android ecosystem, but it would be Google's problem, not Nokia's.
Member since:2009-09-03
Member since:2005-06-30
Only if they are willing to give up getting their phone blessed by Google and thus willing to give up access to the Google Android apps like Maps, Mail and Market. "
Well this is a good call as if Nokia could actually write a phone OS and thereby its ecosystem, they would have succeeded with Symbian or Meego or possibly both.
Member since:2008-09-03
I may be wrong but have not Google said they are going to reduce the ability to customise android and make people use their own in future?
(Off topic but why is the word Google not in the default spell checker for Chrome? it wants to correct it to goggle)
Edited 2011-02-11 12:56 UTC
Member since:2007-08-17
Member since:2008-06-29
Even though what you are telling about Android is true, it'd have come at a price to Nokia. It'd still have to maintain an extensive software R&D team for developing Android the way they want it to be. Further, it's easier for other android vendors to copy the design (hardware & UI) that Nokia would have brought in their device as differentiation.
While, in case of WP7 Nokia can reduce much of their software R&D spend and ask MS to develop SW & HW ref in whichever they'd require. This is what I believe as providing direction to MS on future developments. This would easily thwart the competition as 1)they'd not be ready with a phone meeting reference design and 2)they'll not be able to get Nokia specific software customizations, giving them the power of differentiation.
Member since:2007-09-06
"Further, it's easier for other android vendors to copy the design (hardware & UI) that Nokia would have brought in their device as differentiation. "
To me, that seems to be called competition from natural market forces leading to vendors trying to deliver increasingly better designs.. but, maybe that's just me..
Member since:2010-09-13
It's amazing how ELop stated what he's going to do, but nobody gets it.
He's going to cut Nokia's costs below their sales level, to keep it profitable as it dramatically shrinks in size.
This is not good news to any Nokia fan. Also, what a bunch of wishful thinking this article is - Nokia is the OEM to Microsoft now, hand delivered by the ex-MS exec.
"Influence" my friend - influence to do what, name the thing you think is so important, lets get to the details. Name one thing Nokia needs to influence, and lets examine how that would work with the open source OS.
Android is open source, it could be forked into a completely incompatible OS, if someone so chose - it could be made into a WinPho 7 in that respect, which is also completely incompatible with Android.
To get WinPho 7 on Nokia devices by end of year, they are slapping a stock version on stock phones.
This is a huge "we don't believe in ourselves" move. Why would Nokia be drowned out in an Android world? Why can Samsung do fine, but Nokia wouldn't make it?
Heck Nokia was known for quality - quality build of the phone, they can't hang onto that reputation? But Samsung can? Why??? Koreans are just smarter than Finns?
Give me a break, this Elop has this vision in his head, and he's listening to nobody. His MS experience, is shaping his plans, and he's implementing them, come heck or high water.
Member since:2005-07-06
Pretty decent analysis there, and you're spot on.
Nokia will be slashed to the bone and downsized as it seeks to be profitable. That's the lot of an OEM. He's slashing research and development and is going to turn Nokia into a company that really doesn't do anything.
You never, ever give up control of your platforms and your destiny.
Elop is a total loon. Nokia should have recruited Finnish rather than bringing in an ex-Microsoft MBA idiot.
Member since:2010-06-08
Member since:2007-01-13
Many Samsung phones are just cheap generic Chinese phones with a customised Samsung branded case. They are designed in Taiwan and manufactured under contract in mainland China. They use Taiwanese designed hardware and software.
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Member since:
2010-02-08
Nokia would have no influence of Android? Hello, it is open source. Nokia could rewrite half of it if they wished so. They don't need to go to Google and beg for any changes.
Compare that to WP7 - yeah, they may have some say in OS development at the beginning, when they are still biggest player in WP7 sandbox. But it is only as much influence as MS is willing to give them - and can revoke as soon as Nokia is no longer critical to WP7 success. Essentially Nokia just gave keys to their mobile phone business to MS.
It may get them some cash in short term, but in long term they are going from company that shaped mobile market for decades to mere OEM like HTC.