Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) Future Could Be Android

Updated on

Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) CEO, Stephen Elop, spoke some amazing words in an interview with ElPais, which came as big surprise. The CEO said though the company is fully committed to both Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Windows Phone, it is looking out for future mobile options, including using Android as a platform.

Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) Future Could Be Android

In the interview, when asked about a possible Android phone, Elop said “anything is possible”:

El País: Do you discard launching an Android phone next year?

Elop: In the current ecosystem wars we are using Windows Phone as our weapon. But we are always thinking about what’s coming next, what will be the role of HTML 5, Android… HTML5 could make the platform itself—being Android, Windows Phone or any other—irrelevant in the future, but it’s still too soon [to tell]. Today we are committed and satisfied with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), but anything is possible.

Replying to the question raised about Nokia’s critical situation, Elop said that the company is well poised with Lumia 920 being a big success, adding that the Finnish company will score a double-digit market share.

“I can’t give figures, but the first objective, without giving any dates, is getting a double-digit marketshare. Then, keep pushing and establish an equilibrium with the other two big ecosystems, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Android” Elop said.

All companies (big or small) diversify their product lineups all the time, like Samsung’s support for the fledgling Tizen operating system. It’s highly unlikely that the handset maker will switch to Android until Windows Phone proves to be a disaster. Also, apart from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930), no other company has been able to gain consistently from selling Android handsets. However it’s always wise to keep the options open, the same goes with Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V), as their contract with Microsoft is non-exclusive. But what’s shocking was the timing of the statement, so soon after the launch of Windows Phone 8.

Talks of Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) and android first gained momentum in the beginning of December, when in a description of Nokia’s job post for an engineer, the requirements listed “embedded Linux device software and hardware drivers for our exciting new products.” The company at that time debunked the rumor, citing it is looking for an engineer to work on its new HERE Maps platform, not Android.

Leave a Comment