[rbanffy]

> If you're a Linux type(or MS hater)

Careful. Those are not synonymous.

> Nokia was in talks with Google over Android but Google wouldn't give them many concessions.

Nokia wouldn't need concessions. Barnes & Noble didn't need the, nor did Amazon. They grabbed the code and used it. Android would be a good choice because a) Nokia could tailor the experience to whatever they wanted b) they already have extensive experience with Linux (and Android is Linux) and c) there is actually a market for Android phones

True Microsoft gave them a ton of cash to tip the balance towards WP7. That should also indicate what is actually needed to tip the balance towards making WP7 phones - that, unless US$ 1+ billion is involved, WP7 is not worth it.

[recoiledsnake]

Nokia already proved itself to be inept at making software. Customizing Android and then integrating the source code that Google throws over a wall is not a good move. B&N makes a e-reader which is pretty limited in rival competition and software features. Where's the iReader? Coming to Amazon, they know a few things about software and a laser like focus that Nokia lacks.

In fact, the Nokia board specifically recruited a CEO who had experience in managing software companies(Macromedia/MS) just because Nokia was spiraling down because of the software and it was almost too late to right the course without the risk of completely dying.

>rue Microsoft gave them a ton of cash to tip the balance towards WP7. That should also indicate what is actually needed to tip the balance towards making WP7 phones - that, unless US$ 1+ billion is involved, WP7 is not worth it.

I think it was more about Nokia's need rather than because WP7 sucked as a choice. Regardless of WP7 sucking and Android rocking, Nokia would need to survive 2011 intact, and if making the hardware and writing drivers for WP7 took more than 7 months, what makes you think they can reliably modify Android(a software task that Nokia is weak at) in such a short span of time?

Remember, every month that Nokia doesn't have a viable smartphone platform on the shelves, it's bleeding mindshare, marketshare and money to run operations. They were also able to win the right to modify WP7 and get the latest source code before it's throw over a wall by Google after Motorola/Samsung/HTC already have a device on store shelves running it.

[rbanffy]

I don't think adapting the Android to the N9 would be that hard. Nokia already has a lot of very competent Linux developers (their failure is much more on the application layer than the OS).

It could be that Nokia wouldn't survive long enough to put out an Android phone had it not received the money injection Microsoft provided for the to adopt WP7. Still, they took a very risky road. With that injection they bought time and it seems they kept a plan-B around Linux.

Anyway, I am sure Nokia will sell a lot of WP7 phones. It's not that hard to double WP7's vanishingly small market share. Their sales org is not aimed to you or me - they sell phones to telcos, not end users. That's also why they managed to get so out of touch with what the users wanted.