Nokia Dropping Symbian and MeeGo, Going with Windows Phone 7 Discussion

[Ed Hardy]

In a dramatic change of strategy, Nokia announced a plan this morning to make Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 its default operating system. In the future, Nokia will stop developing operating systems and concentrate on smartphone hardware.

Read the full content of this Article: Nokia Dropping Symbian and MeeGo, Going with Windows Phone 7

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[r0k]

Before this became official, some discussion took place in an earlier thread... here.

Nokia is the 800 pound gorilla in terms of (past) volume and Microsoft is an 800 pound gorilla in terms of (past) volume and deep pockets. One thing that I've noticed is that this move tends to further marginalize webOS and BB OS.

My favorite feature phones over the years were from Nokia and my least favorites were from Motorola and Samsung. If Nokia and M$ do this right, this could keep both companies "in the game" a little longer.

I remember when Kmart and Sears merged, some analysts called it "two cadavers propping one another up." It is tempting to say that about the Nokia/Microsoft deal, especially when the timing is somewhat slow. I'd be more hopeful if they were announcing a specific device available in time for the 2011 holiday season.

[Mi An]

At this point I don't remember the details of WP7 form factor limitations, but I wonder if MS made any concessions to let Nokia keep fresh hardware on tap. Other licensees wouldn't be pleased, but in return for putting up with their anger, MS could potentially leapfrog the others in Europe. I can't imagine Nokia would sign on without a little something-something to grease the wheels.

[hal]

At this point I don't remember the details of WP7 form factor limitations, but I wonder if MS made any concessions to let Nokia keep fresh hardware on tap. Other licensees wouldn't be pleased, but in return for putting up with their anger, MS could potentially leapfrog the others in Europe. I can't imagine Nokia would sign on without a little something-something to grease the wheels.

Nokia has an impressive patent portfolio, that I reckon shall be enough to meet the specs given by Microsoft. Or so I think.

I am really amazed at this Nokia's move, and I'm wondering where will Symbian and MeeGo be in the product lines to be, if they stay at all, I mean. Being Nokia the current owner of Symbian (or did it sell it already?), I don't even remember a Symbian non-Nokia device lately. Are we staring at a dying platform?

[r0k]

At this point I don't remember the details of WP7 form factor limitations, but I wonder if MS made any concessions to let Nokia keep fresh hardware on tap. Other licensees wouldn't be pleased, but in return for putting up with their anger, MS could potentially leapfrog the others in Europe. I can't imagine Nokia would sign on without a little something-something to grease the wheels.

I agree. I bet Nokia is also getting some kind of deal on run times for this. Also this reminds me of Ford Sync. When that came out, Ford wasn't exactly in the lead for car infotainment. I was skeptical at the time, given M$ history of being very rigid about how their software worked. I envisioned cars with start buttons and ctrl-alt-del keys. But if you look at Ford more recently, it's several years later and sync isn't hurting them one bit. So there is historical precedent for M$ coming in and helping a company do well embedding M$ software on its products.

Nokia has an impressive patent portfolio, that I reckon shall be enough to meet the specs given by Microsoft. Or so I think.

I am really amazed at this Nokia's move, and I'm wondering where will Symbian and MeeGo be in the product lines to be, if they stay at all, I mean. Being Nokia the current owner of Symbian (or did it sell it already?), I don't even remember a Symbian non-Nokia device lately. Are we staring at a dying platform?

Yes. Just as Palm broke with garnet, RIM is embracing QNX and just as M$ broke with Win CE, Nokia has eaten a whole bakery full of humble pie to dump its own OS.

[hal]

Yes. Just as Palm broke with garnet, RIM is embracing QNX and just as M$ broke with Win CE, Nokia has eaten a whole bakery full of humble pie to dump its own OS.

If you're just 2% right, pal, then my ever-standing procrastination has finally turned out profit I've been lagging a platform swap ever since the Pre arrived here. Android seems the most appealing, and BB next. In several occasions, I had considered Symbian

[Mi An]

Nokia has an impressive patent portfolio, that I reckon shall be enough to meet the specs given by Microsoft. Or so I think.

I'm not concerned about their ability to meet spec requirements, just their desire to break the form factor mold and be creative. Nokia likes to experiment, but at least, last I checked, WP7's restrictions were designed to homogenize form factors (as if that was winmo's problem ) in addition to ensuring minimum specs (that was occasionally an issue for me-too winmo devices).

I envisioned cars with start buttons and ctrl-alt-del keys.

Ha!

[LandSurveyor]

At least it allows Nokia to keep its foothold in the information services. Doubt they're thrilled about Bing but even some VZW Androids have a Bing button.

If anybody is creative enough to make a device that will sell WP7, it has to be Nokia. Further, the combo should prove intriguing and distinguish this new tree from the growing Android forest.

I agree that they both need to get going and get some devices out the door. Something basic that fits MS's specs with the Nokia brand will be a good start. Don't get fancy, just turn out a good, solid device with typical Nokia voice & reception quality.

And, if it's not too much to hope for, a good camera, please.
I particularly like the depiction I've seen with of N8 with the MS OS.

[Antoine Wright]

Its a move, not one that I'd done in their shoes, but a move. Might end up well for them, but MS has an interesting record in regards to partnerships.

As for moving to other platforms - the game is ecosystems, platform wars are pretty much done. Choose your ecosystem, and the platform (and its benefits and impacts) are all yours. In respect to platforms, the market (and news media) have chose non-open source fronted efforts. Which speaks to where open source efforts most fail (as platforms great, but integrated in ecosystems are too few in terms of successes).

Interesting how RIM was/has been left out of discussions. They are (un)officially 2nd tier - which should make their investors happy, and some users/clients happier.

[Drillbit]

Nokia's stock value went down by 14%. Below ten bucks now.

Nokia employees went on strike in one Finnish plant.