Just Let Nokia Deal with Windows Phone
Nokia’s survival depends on turning Windows Phone into a greater success.
Microsoft’s does not.
Nokia has demonstrated they can make a top shelf Lumia, quality WP software and they’re happy to go on aggressive campaigns to recruit the likes of Instagram to shovel their software to Windows Phone. Nokia also has had a somewhat recent history of selling more phones than anyone else. Nokia appears to be the best thing that’s happened to Windows Phone. Nokia accounts for about eighty percent of all Windows Phones, and rising. Samsung and HTC have shown disinterest.
Might it be in the platform’s interest for Microsoft to divest and hand over the reins to Nokia?
Nokia’s vulnerable, but they’ve got $25 billion in current assets, $37b total. Microsoft could probably squeeze a pretty sweet deal out of them, shake ‘em down real good, and they might want to move now before Nokia effectively hedges their bets with ventures like Asha and before their ally Elop goes into early retirement.
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About The Author
Doug Simmons
Biographical info.. hmm. I have a history of not being able to strike the balance between what is "safe" to put into these forms and what is, in my mind at least, funny. Can't do it.
I picked up the Nokia 521 (T-Mobile) from Wal Mart yesterday and all I can say is I am very happy with it.
I also know that Straight Talk has their own version of the Nokia 521 at wal mart as well.
Straight Talk Version is 229.88 while the Tmobile version is 129.88 – both can be found at Wal Mart right now.
Congrats on the new phone. From what I’ve gathered it’s quite nice and would still be at a higher price than that.
But what do you make of Asha? Didn’t they make Tango to fulfill the same purpose?
Asha – is that the non windows phone by nokia to fill the cheaper price range.
I will say this on Nokia 521 – I had to beat down 3 other customers for my 521 yesterday. The wal mart i bought mine at got 15 yesterday mourning and by the time i got there…..wait for it…….there was only one. since i got there first i had first pick. just as the rep was about to ask do you….. I said yes i want it now.
i here same stories from the other wal marts around me. as soon as the nokia 521 comes in the store runs out.
Now that I look at my last reply – maybe I need to do an ad for Nokia 521 called Brawl at the WAL………..Mart.
Kinda like the wedding ad on tv.
Nokia certainly brings alot to the platform but why would anyone want yet another closed platform? The strength and viability for the platform is derived from its ability to run on numerous hardware platforms while being able to ensure an optimal experience. I don’t want a Nokia ecosystem. I want a Microsoft ecosystem because it can effortlessly provide cross platform content and experiences between all of my devices. Think about it – what would become of BYOD when your personal content and profile can follow you anywhere you go? You can link your live account to an Enterprise Domain account and access a plethora of features and content that you use at home. There is no other single platform that can do anything like this as effortlessly as Microsoft. On occasion, Microsoft will display flashes of brilliance (like Kinect for example) but that isn’t what defines Microsoft. On the other hand, they tirelessly pursue system integration throughout their vast catalog of services. That is one of their greatest strengths. This is considerably more evident from within the Enterprise space. Whenever I think that there can’t be another layer, I find that there are a dozen more that I never considered. Windows Phone is yet another extension of that. If your a competitor, one of the dumbest things you could do is underestimate them. Just ask Novell about that. No one could have imagined that directory and authentication management would swing to Active Directory. Symantec is fighting for scraps in the wake of System Center, Lotus Notes is defined by the clients who desperately want to get rid of it, VMWare is trying to fend off Hyper-V with lower price points and Citrix may completely give up on established products like XenDesktop and XenApp because of RDS and App-V. Don’t even get me started on Xbox if you want consumer based comparisons. That doesn’t mean that Microsoft will always be triumphant but it does illustrate that Microsoft has the will, the strategic vision and the intellectual property that they need to succeed. More so, they are very good at being the underdog AND the incumbency all at the same time. Should Microsoft hand over Windows Phone to Nokia? Frankly, that is nothing short of ludicrous.