Mobile

Is Nokia going Android or Windows Phone 7?

Name: Is Nokia going Android or Windows Phone 7?
Brand: Nokia
Rating: 4.3 (1 reviews)

Abe Olandres February 9, 2011 · 2 min read

Listen to article

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P gets an early preview ASUS Chromebook CM14 announced ASUS ROG unveils Strix OLED XG34WCDMS, Strix XG129C monitors BPI partners with Robinsons Retail for barcode cash deposits in stores DJI Osmo Mobile 8P globally launched

If the recently leaked memo of Nokia CEO Stephen Elop shows some tell-tale signs of platform shifts for Nokia, they might just jump and take on other mobile OSes. The two most likely targets are Windows Phone 7 and Android.

Nokia’s Symbian is losing grounds in almost all levels — even the 2-year old Google Android has surpassed their shipment numbers in 2010.

So, in order for Nokia to compete more aggressively, it has to let go of Symbian’s monopoly over their handsets. Meego will not cut it (too late already).

Nokia could go and use Windows Phone 7 with its high-end phones. Makes sense considering Elop came from Microsoft before becoming top gun at Nokia. If he didn’t consider WP7, it could be a huge slap in the face of his former company. Problem though is that WP7 has very high hardware requirements so only very limited Nokia handsets will be able to carry it.

Android might be the most practical choice for Nokia as it can handle mid-range to high-end handset models. Android’s large collection of apps will be a huge boost as well. However, that might kill Nokia’s Ovi efforts and the millions of dollars they’ve invested into it.

That doesn’t mean Nokia has to bury Symbian altogether. The popular Series 40 platform can still be used for entry-level and feature-phones.

The more logical move would be for Nokia to use all possible OSes into the mix — Symbian, Android and WP7 — as it still retains the same corporate strategy of offering every type of phone for every kind of person.

So, which one do you think Nokia will go for? Android or Windows Phone 7?

React to this article:

nokia android nokia wp7

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

7,991 Articles

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

178 Comments

Messie · 15 years ago

Nokia running on Android will definitely be nice. Not only because of the myriad of available apps for the android OS, but also because of the possible price drop since Android is free (compare I guess to WM7). The basic Android will be well, but if Nokia wants to make a custom UI for it, I hope they don’t fancy it up too much.

daniel · 15 years ago

for me… they better have all… WP7… android. flexibility and options makes customers happy…

but ill buy their android against WP7.. well wp7 is too expensive and very closed just like iphone… i want multitasking and copy paste in mass storages :D

Den · 15 years ago

I would like to see entry level Android phones by Nokia. I think they can easily catch up if they switch from cumbersome Symbian to either WP7 or Android.

fred · 15 years ago

Once Nokia jumps into Android ship, they will be back in their winning form again. Nokia still leads the low-end phone segment, so it makes sense for them to produce entry level Android phones.

RJ · 15 years ago

I hope they would go for Windows Phone 7.

kyle · 15 years ago

Hope they ship android on their phones. entry level to mid range phones and get WP7 on the high end ones

wakocoke · 15 years ago

@Marck

they are doing it and it’s called meego but it’s too late

Marck · 15 years ago

Why don’t just improve Symbian to look like Android?

Pukeman · 15 years ago

I think Stephen Elop’s blunt comments to his colleagues reflect how far Nokia has fallen behind. Given his background, it will come as no surprise if Nokia opts for the WP7 route. That being said, another tech blog has commented the 2 wrongs don’t make a right, ie, choosing the WP7 route is the wrong way to go given the momentum behind Android, and also Microsoft’s rather defensive position with regards to their WP7 platform.
As for Symbian and the millions Nokia has spent on it, sometimes the smart money is in amputating a putrefying limb.

Wil · 15 years ago

this would be a good opportunity for nokia to make phones that is what the hacking community wanted.. a high end phone that includes “drivers” sources and stock Android that can be upgraded along when google releases AOSP sources. Think of a mobile version of a PC where you can update you don’t have to worry about your phone getting updated (cause google or the hacking community will provide for you) :)

Vern · 15 years ago

I guess they’ll go for both. Means more options for consumers.

Ton · 15 years ago

Ndroid01. Slide out qwerty. Aluminum casing. 36hour standby. Froyo with Gingerbread upgrade commitment. That would change everything. For them.

wakocoke · 15 years ago

it’s not about being late at the OS competition, it’s about the ecosystem

look, iOS and Android’s ecosystem have matured enough. i doubt makakahabol ang webos at meego. wp7 might still have a chance

Taz · 15 years ago

dami padin talagang pinoy nokia fantard =) it only takes two eyes to see and a mind to realized that Nokia is falling down the bridge, they need a drastic move and that has to be adapting Android or WP7 for now nothing more nothing less…

Something. · 15 years ago

I think that it’s not late yet for Nokia to integrate Meego OS in their future phones. Despite the obvious decrease in Nokia’s sales, we could still see many Nokia fanboys. I think that if the Finnish company will release a phone with MeeGo, fanboys will definitely eat it, no matter how new it is.

My 2 cents.

razorous · 15 years ago

Nokia + WP7 would be a good move. They both can help each other since they seem to be both at the bottom right now… Android could stay with HTC, LG, Samsung and SE

Nottie · 15 years ago

Android will reach its Saturation soon, look at Symbian. Windows Phone 7 goes a long way. Look at Xbox360, Windows OS, Office suite, and many things at Microsoft. There were flops but able to catch up and lead eventually. But now, N8, I like!

icarus · 15 years ago

I’ve always wanted to see that statement by Nokia a long time ago. I guess it’s too late for them.

Looking forward for the next big thing in the smartphone industry.

drealmarlon · 15 years ago

and also their new product!
Huawei Wireless 3G Modem
http://www.villman.com/Category-Brand/Broadband-Routers/Huawei

Keith · 15 years ago

Android and WP7 would be good but I think in the long run it would be even smarter if the go with WP7 only and run with it.

drealmarlon · 15 years ago

other news!
MSI WINDPAD arrive @ Villman store
http://www.villman.com/Product-Detail/msi_WindPad_100W

turds · 15 years ago

@tomiahonen thinks Engadget ‘Burning Platforms’ memo by Nokia
CEO Stephen Elop is hoax http://bit.ly/gU2Xed

para tabla naman.

turds · 15 years ago

yuga, naki bandwagon kana rin sa applegadget? Lolz.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matuk.com%2F2011%2F02%2F08%2Fnokia-nos-responde%2F&act=url

adam · 15 years ago

at last. Which is the better OS W7P or Android?.

Gumz · 15 years ago

Android + Nokia + Camera + Haardware Quality + … = Excellent!!!

What would be their next step?

badz · 15 years ago

baduy kasi ng Ovi Store. Lahat patikim, free trial.

In Android Market there are free and paid versions. The difference is the feature. Pero fully functional parin yun free.

phone prices phlippines · 15 years ago

Nokia plus android equals amazing phone

former nokia fan boy · 15 years ago

android will definitely make a significant boost for Nokia and regain their previous sales. WP7? maybe next

Mango · 15 years ago

WP7 + Nokia great camera, Fix the Ovi Store partner with Zune Store.
Hopefully the hardware issue will be fixed. Nokia still needs to provide with the low end models. That is were the Android OS comes into play. Win Win. 2 OS in one company

walang imik · 15 years ago

Android

lolipown · 15 years ago

Nokia has been great with hardware (except maybe in it’s business line.. the E series really needs a slap in the face). What they lack is a proper OS. Either choice will be a great uplift to Nokia’s drooping image.

Carlo · 15 years ago

Android!

Whatever happened to Symbian? Sikat na sikat sya dati eh… I loved my Symbian phones from years ago..

wilde · 15 years ago

I would like to think that Nokia would not team up with WP7.

I have yet to see a report from Microsoft boasting the number of WP7 handsets sold… which may likely indicate that WP7 as a mobile OS was not that successful.

NemOry · 15 years ago

I think WP7 nakta q kc sa techpinas na may bl0g dun na n0kia running wp7 ung parang mlapit sa square ang shape.

Operation Super · 15 years ago

Nokia hardware with Android would be fantastic.

Willy Yu · 15 years ago

IMH, its a WM7 for highend Nokia,

godofredo · 15 years ago

@Mark

I understand what yugatech suggests that “Meego will not cut it”. Considering millions of units being shipped for both iOS and Android from several manufacturers, 1 Meego device at the end of the year will not cut through the current trends of sales or save the losing smartphone market of Nokia. Also, by the end of 2011, iOS5/iPhone5 and Android 2.5? might be release already to compete with. Nokia has suffered enough already to stay put as they are today.

If Nokia makes an Android for the midrange market, I will buy one. :) Nokia’s hardware build are top-notch. I just hope they create competitively priced handsets.

Alexei Rivera · 15 years ago

Meego is indeed too late. It should have come out years ago. No amount of speedy development can get a new platform to blossom in 2011 against the massive development speeds of Android and Apple. Nokia will not survive another foray into an extremely niche and segmented completely new OS.

garz · 15 years ago

FINALLY!!

Nokia has woken up!

Mark · 15 years ago

@sir yuga – I read the memo before my first posting. I’m just dismayed how you oversimplified it by saying “Meego will not cut it”. That statement is shockingly similar to you, announcing the death of the of MeeGo platform itself, especially when there is no solid statement in the memo that they would do so. But I am not saying it is not a possibility (especially when some statements in the memo could actually point to that.. albeit indirect)

as i said “I hope that this is just a financial move for Nokia, before they launch MeeGo.. ”

***sorry for acting obnoxious and distasteful regarding this topic, but you see, I had high hopes for this platform ever since last year and am extremely anxious of its release (the mature version).

Jam. · 15 years ago

WP7 might be good.

hahaha · 15 years ago

paano naba yan? kung mag windows7 or android, ano silbi sa mga latest phones nila?

Beh buti nga · 15 years ago

@Mark

Comment kasi ng comment, hindi binabasang mabuti. Basag ka no? Wahahahahahaha Salesman ka siguro ng Nokia.

Seph · 15 years ago

in addition to my comment above, another big example is Sony!

sorry for the additional post. no edit post feature :)

Seph · 15 years ago

I’d say both, Samsung,LG and HTC are doing it. why shouldnt they?. It all comes down to hardware offering/features, price and brand reach.

getalife · 15 years ago

i can’t imagine a Nokia phone with Windows OS in it

Mark · 15 years ago

I despise you for saying that “Meego will not cut it (too late already).” without even citing a reference nor have you given a any reason other than “too late already”. If anything, MeeGo has a better chance of joining the smartphone/tablet platform race, than say “bada”.

I hope that this is just a financial move for Nokia, before they launch MeeGo.. Hoping… *sigh*

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 15 years ago

@mark – please read the full memo of Nokia’s CEO first. But in case you missed that part, here you go — We thought MeeGo would be a platform for winning high-end smartphones. However, at this rate, by the end of 2011, we might have only one MeeGo product in the market.