Nokia OS May Shift to Android Before Microsoft Deal

Nokia OS may shift to Android before the Nokia-Microsoft Deal as the Finnish smartphone manufacturers are working on it. As most of the people know that Nokia has recently sold its Devices and device services unit to Microsoft for $7.2 Billion, but before their deal it looks like the Finnish firm to shift Nokia OS to Google’s Android OS sometime after late 2014. While Microsoft and Nokia had a long tight partnership over the Windows Phone based Nokia Lumia series, but new evidence shows that a Nokia Lumia Android Phone was being considered, the prototypes are also reported by the firm.

Apparently Nokia had a team working on bringing Android as Nokia OS to its Lumia much before their deal with Microsoft. The source told that Microsoft executives were not unaware about the existence of this project.

The plan of the Finnish Firm to shift their Nokia OS is not surprising story. Most of the smartphone firms often keep alternatives in their mind just for the case if they need to shif the OS or iron out better deals with software partners. The process of adding Android OS onto Nokia’s Hardware was reportedly not such a difficult one. A functional Nokia Android phone is definitely a powerful bargaining chip for the Finnish firm while dealing with Microsoft. Currently it’s reported that the Android OS runs on every 3 out of 4 smartphones globally. Both Nokia and Microsoft refused to comment on it.

The Finnish firm Nokia had a deal with Microsoft to use Windows Phone OS in their smartphones sometime in 2011, but had the option of ending the partnership in 2014. Changing the OS could have proven costly for both firms. Microsoft’s Windows Phone accomplishments would have suffered greatly as Nokia now accounts for close to 80% of all Windows Phones sold. Nokia, also, would have had to shell out a lot of money to change such an essential part of its smartphone line-up.

At time, Nokia faced a huge criticism for picking Windows Phone operating system over the Android OS. Nokia’s current share in the smartphone market has fallen down to 3% during the 1^st quarter of this year, as opposed to a major 32.8% in the 2010. It will not be wrong to say that the open nature of Android OS and greater number of apps may help Nokia to get better market share and help the Finnish firm to get better position in the market. The Former CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop hinted that the firm’s decision to stick to Windows Phone was only based on Samsung’s continuous domination over the Android market.