The Nokia Widnows Phone 7 deal made headlines on all major blogs when it was announced. It’s been a few months, and CNBC interviewed CEO Stephen Elop on TV late last week for an update. The interview talked about everything from how long until we see a Windows Phone from them, in what numbers will we see them, and what they might look like.
The CEO answered every question confidently and when asked about alternatives if Windows Phone doesn’t pan out, Elop went so far to say “Plan B is to make sure that Plan A is very successful.” That’s what true dedication is, and it seems Nokia feels that they will either succeed with Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 or die trying.
Nokia’s market share once was a force to be reckoned with. They once controlled 40% of all phones in circulation, and a greater percentage in the smartphone market. Now their market share is quickly falling behind companies like Apple and HTC, who make high-selling and extremely popular devices. Market share is not the only thing that’s falling behind; sales for Nokia devices have reached an all time low. They’ve been experiencing a loss in profits since iPhone and Android-based devices came onto the scene in late 2007. Now they’re making a last stand with Windows Phone.
With all that said, Nokia has had many meetings with Microsoft’s CEO and the Windows Phone 7 development team, so they most likely know where this is going. The company has condemned Android on many occasions, and so if this plan A fails, Android is certainly not going to be their plan B, unless Mr. Elop wants to lose all credibility or get replaced.
Here’s a short snippet from the interview:
Griffeth: Here’s the question I have, Mr. Elop. As you transition from the Symbian platform – the operating system you’ve had for so many years there – to the Windows operating system, you are already scaling back research and development. Trying to cut costs as you make this transition. But you’re making the transition to an operating system that’s been used for handsets for ten years and has failed to gain traction at this point against the likes of an Apple or Android. I guess my first question to is, you know what if it doesn’t gain traction? These new Windows phones that you’re going to bring to market later this year? You’re already abandoning Symbian for down the road? What’s Plan B if this doesn’t work?
Elop: Plan B is to make sure that Plan A is very successful. The critical ingredient for success are there, consumers are saying the Windows brand operating system is very good. Better in terms of their satisfaction than the competing platforms, but Microsoft hasn’t had a partner doing its best work for Windows Phone. That’s the commitment Nokia made through this processor. By bringing together our hardware, software and services assets with the strengths that Microsoft brings, we have a formula we believe will drive great success.
Anyone looking forward to buying a Nokia phone that runs Windows Phone 7 when it’s released? Do you think they are going to have the same quality as their previous phones?
[via CNBC]