Nokia CEO drops hints about future Windows 8 tablets

Nokia, the mobile phone vendor that has been focusing on Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS more than any other hardware manufacturer, hinted in an interview that Windows 8 tablets might be in its future. Specifically, CEO Stephen Elop told Australian Financial Review the company is examining how other form factors beyond just smartphones would play out for the company.

“We haven’t announced tablets at this point, but it is something we are clearly looking at very closely,” Elop said in the interview. “We are studying very closely the market right now as Microsoft has introduced the Surface tablet, so we are trying to learn from that and understand what the right way to participate would be and at what point in time.”

As you might know by now, the Surface for the most part has been a flop. Sales were presumably embarrassing enough that Microsoft didn’t even make a point to share the number of units sold in its quarterly earnings release a couple of weeks ago. Since Nokia and Microsoft have a pretty decent relationship in regards to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, you might assume Nokia’s tablets would run Windows 8, however Elop mentioned that’s not necessarily going to be the case.

“It is important to note that the opportunity for companionship is something that any user is looking for. So, when you think about the Lumia 920, running on Windows Phone, having a Windows tablet or PC or Xbox is something that will give us the opportunity to have a pretty integrated experience,” Elop said, but only after stating Nokia would “consider any option.”

Perhaps we could see a Nokia tablet by the end of 2013.

[via BGR]