Ah, new year's resolutions. As we head into 2013 it's time to think about making changes where things aren't working, and as Nokia struggles with eye-watering losses on Windows Phone, does a new interview hint at Android in the future?
Speaking to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Nokia boss Stephen Elop discussed the war between Windows Phone, Android and the different mobile phone ecosystems. An early translation suggested Elop coquettishly said, "Today we are engaged and satisfied with Microsoft, but any rotation is possible," suggesting Nokia wasn't ruling out Android.
But that was just a clumsy translation (or perhaps a misquote), as Nokia claims Elop actually said, "What role does Android or other things play in the future? We're looking further into the future, but in terms of what we're bringing to market, and what we're immediately focused on, we're focused on Windows Phone."
Unequivocal support for Windows Phone there -- for the immediate future. But Elop also adds, "What we're always doing is asking, how does that evolve? What's next?"
What indeed? Now I love Windows Phone, but with Nokia's numbers in the toilet and Windows Phone still clinging onto the phone market by its fingertips, Nokia must surely be at least considering abandoning the Microsoft ship. Other companies like Samsung make Windows Phone phones and Android phones, so why not Nokia?
Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer insisted during his appearance at tech-stravaganza CES this week that Windows Phone sold five times as well this Christmas as last year, buoyed by the arrival of Windows Phone 8 and mobiles such as the Nokia Lumia 920. But until it sells a lot more there'll always be more than a few voices nagging at Nokia to consider Android.
Do you think Nokia should make Android phones before Microsoft's operating system finishes the Finnish company, or can Windows Phone 8 turn around Nokia's fortunes? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 21
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Damien2501 8 January, 2013 16:53
If Nokia made a 'Droid tomorrow, what would it be able to do other 'Droids can't do? Nokia Windows phones are expensive compared to what it's up against, why make your products exclusive to one network, with ridiculous prices? Why price it soo high SIM free?? It needs to brings the price of its devices down even if it does diversify and move to Android and releases tablets, why should people buy Nokia products??
anonymous 8 January, 2013 16:56
Nokia should go ahead and try Android and then they may become as popular as when I remember seeing everyone with 3210's and 8210's! Continuing with Windows is a surefire way to fail especially as everyone I have talked to hates the way MS are going with their OSes (mobile and desktops).
anonymous 8 January, 2013 16:56
My daughter has just had a Lumia820 W8 phone. I have an iPhone4s and wife has an Android HTC DesireX. They are all superb phones but my favourite, based on about two weeks of family membership, is the Nokia Lumia. I'll stick with the iPhone because it does what I want and more but there is no getting away from the fact that it has two great rival systems in competition and a vast amount of seriously good hardware to choose from.
Windows phones will continue to evolve and improve. Let's hope more people buy it so that there continues to be three great systems competing to improve and give consumers and businesses a great choice.
Irfan Anil Samuel 8 January, 2013 17:04
People will buy Nokia with Windows Phone if they bring a device with latest specs. Quad core with a brilliant screen is what they need to bring. They already have best camera and a very good map service.
anonymous 8 January, 2013 17:24
"Ah, new year's resolutions. As we head into 2013 it's time to think about making changes where things aren't working, and as Nokia struggles with eye-watering losses on Windows Phone"
Nokia were making eye-watering losses before Windows Phone so don't blame the OS !!
anonymous 8 January, 2013 17:27
Even if they make Android buggy mobile devices, they will still think since it is Nokia , it should be more expensive than other Android devices. And this alone would make their device unsalable! Nokia needs to understand that it is a late comer. Hence, they should be using price to beat the crown. But they would never understand that.
Mark Anderson 8 January, 2013 19:17
Let's see what the results are like on January 24. I don't expect that they'll be earth shattering, but if they continue to improve then it's the right strategy - pretty much every main Android OEM apart from Samsung see-saws from profit to loss on Android, or is fast losing profits in the case of HTC.
I have an 820 and really like it. With the 620 coming out at about £200 at the end of January there's a real opportunity for Nokia to push things on.
anonymous 8 January, 2013 19:47
Of course I have no idea what it costs to develop an Android phone, but a sensible business strategy would be to hedge your bets and have both Windows and Android phones. Even if Nokia's long term goals are not with Android, short to mid-term it could generate much needed revenue.
You have to suspect Nokia signed an exclusivity deal with Microsoft. I think the Nokia business stategist didn't read past the many zeroes on the Microsoft cheque when he signed the contract. He'll have got a nice fat bonus, and if Nokia goes down the toilet then I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it.
anonymous 8 January, 2013 21:19
The El Pais article quoted him as sayiing:
“Hoy estamos con Microsoft, pero cualquier giro es posible”
A better translation is:
"Today were with Microsoft, tomorrow we'll be on the giro."
Meleagru 8 January, 2013 22:56
Nokia needs a backup OS. Apple is the only company that successfully makes phone for an exclusive OS but it has the very important trump of full ownership. With Microsoft set to make their own phone sometime this year, what will set Nokia apart from its W8 competitors? History? That matters little to a new generation of consumers for whom the brand doesn't mean anything. It doesn't even have to be android, just have a spare. A darkhorse like Firefox OS or Ubuntu is still better than nothing. Just look at how bad RIM is doing with BB and it doesn't even have any direct competitors. And it's all happening because Nokia is a Finnish company. If it were American, it would have backstabbed Microsoft a long time ago. Don't pull a Saab just because of principles, the mobile phone market is in desperate need of real competition.
anonymous 9 January, 2013 06:21
Their is a reason some people choose Android over IOS. The platform is open and customizable.
This doesn't necessarily mean one is better than the other. But the growth of Android has proven that alot of people would rather go with a slightly cheaper device (cheaper than Apple) that can be customized as opposed to a lockdown platform for a higher premium.
MS have also chosen the IOS route. They have more limitations than Android and the fact is that Nokia devices are expensive.
Yeah, sure, there are plenty of Droid out there. But there is a difference. HTC have traditionally brought phones with terrible cameras, dubious battery life (from what I have read) and sub standard hardware (again, from what I have read). There was nothing to distinguish their product from any other OEM in terms of hardware. (this is excluding the newer range) Software - wise, thats just upto your own preference.
Nokia on the other hand have had good hardware. Ok Symbian was garbage - but it ran on much less hardware than anything else out there. On the flip side, nokias have had great cameras, some awesome designs - even some weird phones. They are the original innovators in the Mobile Phone Industry
Be honest - if nokia came out with a Droid with unibody construction and a 70MP pureview camera - wouldnt you buy it - just to say - Hey I got a 70MP camera phone.
I think Nokia would do well to diversify like all the other OEM's. Give the consumer the choice. Its good business - Nokia Droid or Nokia WP. I dont understand the business sense in telling the customer to buy a Nokia WP and if you want a droid go somewhere else. Just doesn't make sense.
Traditionally Nokia hardware has been good. And that "could" be what distinguishes them from another OEM
I'd buy a nokia Droid at the right price.
PS: Elop is a douche bag, they should replace him
PSS: Nokia should get in bed with Jolla Sailfish - I think that's a really cool OS.
james79 9 January, 2013 09:34
Microsoft are killing nokia! Windows phone has never been great since day 1! Now weve got the new bb10 on the horizon windows really will struggle! Blackberry used to be popular but bad outdated phones and software let it down - the new phone looks great and its OS looks interesting to say the least! At least if blackberry fails - it will be their own doing while its microsoft ruining the Nokia name! Get your heads together Nokia and get an android back up phone released - Nokia always had great design- barring some ugly symbians so now bring Great design together with Great android and show all the isheep what a real phone looks like!
shauney3 9 January, 2013 12:17
I would prob buy a Nokia Android. Love the look of the Lumia's... Just a shame they have Windows Phone installed on them...
anonymous 9 January, 2013 12:32
That cheque from MS is keeping Nokia in business. Without MS's help Nokia would have gone bankrupt ages ago.
Just throwing Android on a phone and throwing it into the marketplace isn't going to save Nokia, people need to understand that. There's dozens of companies selling me-too Android phones, most are making a pittance from them, and Samsung is basically destroying all of their market shares. Nokia might be on the fledgling platform, but it actually differentiates their products from the Android crowd and gives people a reason to buy a Lumia over a Samsung Galaxy phone (if they're that way inclined, of course).
shauney3 9 January, 2013 13:02
@ anonymous 9 January, 2013 12:32 -
Don't forget HTC and Samsung are joining the Windows crowd, so it isn't exclusively Nokia's territory to differentiate itself on...
anonymous 9 January, 2013 15:36
I had an HTC with Android and changed to Nokia 820 to get an instrument that was a better phone - its not - it worse. And I lost easy sync with Outlook on my PC as well. Nokia 820 is not a phone or business tool, its a toy.
anonymous 9 January, 2013 18:30
I agree with shauney3, the windows phones look brilliant, its just a pity they have not got the android os on them. The htc 8x would be fantastic if it was on android.
CaptainPicard 11 January, 2013 14:43
I agree with the comments about the Lumia 920 pricing and moving to Android wont magically fix Nokia's finances. Nevertheless, Nokia has got something right in 2012. The marketing of its products was much better than most of its rivals, its adverts showed its phones in use and it sponsored some of my favourite TV programmes of 2012. Good marketing is the reason why Samsung has been so successful in the budget and mid-range markets, Samsungs lower end phones were inferior to Huawei, HTC and Sony, yet its been able to get away with it because of its really good marketing.
anonymous 6 March, 2013 04:07
Nokia is on the way. Microsoft need to update their phone OS. They must add some more features and customizations which we see on android and Symbian OS. The UI also needs to improve, must be able to install customized theme and icon package. There's so many things need to change on the OS that makes Nokia Lumia rule out the world.
anonymous 17 April, 2013 14:18
Nokia has to keep on with Windows, at the same time should improve their futures. I hope they may develop a better OS than Symbian, Windows and android. Then it will be a grand surprise
Asaf Ali 17 April, 2013 14:26
When Nokia will come up with impeccable call quality, neat maps, easy and flexible video calls, easy connectivity, more storage, high RAM, strong processor, thin body then Nokia will reign