Microsoft was testing Surface Phone while Nokia experimented with Android

[JohnL]

Microsoft and Nokia need each other more than you'd expect. While Nokia was testing Android in a variety of different ways, Microsoft was busy experimenting with a Surface Phone. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans have revealed to The Verge that the company built a number of prototype devices to test the viability of such a phone. We're told that Terry Myerson, who now heads the Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox operating systems, was in charge of the secret Surface phone project. We understand the company had originally considered the idea of its own phone devices as a "Plan B" if Nokia wasn't successful with Windows Phone.

NOKIA'S WINDOWS PHONE DOMINANCE WORRIED MICROSOFT

Nokia now dominates Windows Phone. The Finnish company has secured over 80 percent of all Windows Phone marketshare, a statistic that concerned executives in Redmond. Instead of an ecosystem of partners using Windows Phone like they do Android, Nokia has been the sole dedicated handset maker. HTC tried its own unique partnership with Microsoft with limited success, and Samsung has not seriously committed to its own devices. Microsoft faced an uncertain Windows Phone future if Nokia pulled out of the deal.

While Microsoft was busy experimenting with concepts for its own hardware, Nokia was also building its own Android devices. The New York Times reported details of one particular project today, but there were more. Sources familiar with Nokia's plans have revealed that the company was growing increasingly frustrated last year with Microsoft's work to push Windows Phone to lower price points. An effort codenamed "Tango" resulted in cheaper handsets with low specifications, but Nokia needed more.

A NOKIA ANDROID DEVICE FOR THE LOW-END

One particular project in testing was codenamed "AOL" according to insiders — "Asha on Linux," a reference to Nokia's low-end line of devices that don't run Windows Phone. Nokia uses a variety of codenames for projects, but this particular one — also codenamed "MView" for Google's hometown of Mountain View — was designed to use a variant of Android on a low-end handset to maximize margins. We're told the end result was planned to launch in 2014, but with the recent acquisition employees working on the projects do not know their fate. One of Nokia's ideas was to fork its own version of Android in a similar way to Amazon for low-end devices.

But Nokia's experimentation with Android was not limited to the bottom of the line: the company was also testing Google's platform on its mainstream Lumia range to hedge against the possible failure of Windows Phone. Microsoft became aware of that particular effort, but as the testing was early on in the Windows Phone partnership, it's not believed that it contributed to Microsoft's decision to purchase Nokia's device business.

In all likelihood, the acquisition means that Microsoft will shelve two projects that were considered "nuclear options" in their respective businesses: Myerson's Surface Phone and Nokia's array of Android initiatives.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/13/4...testing-while-nokia-experimented-with-android
But I thought Nokia would've never gone Android .

 

[satam55]

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/13/4...testing-while-nokia-experimented-with-android
But I thought Nokia would've never gone Android .

@Hiphoplives4eva

 

[CELL]

Android on Nokia would be a first dap cop from me. That built quality, that hardware. Windows phones are trash.

 

[AquaCityBoy]

Makes sense Nokia wouldn't want to be tied to Windows Phone. The US sales numbers are

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

Android on Nokia would be a first dap cop from me. That built quality, that hardware. Windows phones are trash.

 

[Tom Foolery]

I knew Nokia leaving was the reason they bought them. The Microsoft/Nokia deal was always on the table. M$ was forced into the deal.

 

[CELL]

Let me get this straight you think an OS with little to no app support in comparison to iOS and Android platforms, little to no cloud support in comparison to iOS and Android platforms is measuring up to the two front runners?

You're either delusional or stupid to be buying into the Windows phone market. I don't even have to sit here and explain to you the reasons why, unless you own shares in the company on a grand scale I'd suggest you sell them and cut your losses because Nokia will be run into the ground until they change their strategy.

 

[Tunez]

I would've copped that Surface phone tho

 

[AnotherRoute]

I have one and he is right the the app support and available apps are trash, Bing maps is trash. Also with how popular instagram is only one windows phone is able to use instagram. You are blocking out a large part of the market share with that.

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

I have one and he is right the the app support and available apps are trash, Bing maps is trash. Also with how popular instagram is only one windows phone is able to use instagram. You are blocking out a large part of the market share with that.

Your ignroant. Get your facts straight.

App support is not TRASH as 45 out of the top 50 ios apps are on windows phone

Bing Maps is far from trash, but no biggie because you also are able to use NOKIA Maps which is actually FAR better than Google Maps due to the ability to use it OFFLINE. Furthermore its used by all the luxury car manufacturers, including Mercedes, BMW, and others. I understand if it is your OPINION that Nokia maps is trash, but the world disagrees.

Instagram can be used on ALL windows phones, not just one. There are NUMEROUS APPS that allow you to post to instagram, including Instance, 6tagram, Hippstamatic, and a few others. They are usable on ALL PHONES for you losers that can't live without instagram.

Windows phones are available at all price points, in markets all over the globe. from as low as 100 (Nokia 521) to the $699 (nokia 1020). The phablet is coming in September/October. Trust me, i think NOK has all its bases covered...

 

[Mac071415]

Your ignroant. Get your facts straight.

App support is not TRASH as 45 out of the top 50 ios apps are on windows phone

Bing Maps is far from trash, but no biggie because you also are able to use NOKIA Maps which is actually FAR better than Google Maps due to the ability to use it OFFLINE. Furthermore its used by all the luxury car manufacturers, including Mercedes, BMW, and others. I understand if it is your OPINION that Nokia maps is trash, but the world disagrees.

Instagram can be used on ALL windows phones, not just one. There are NUMEROUS APPS that allow you to post to instagram, including Instance, 6tagram, Hippstamatic, and a few others. They are usable on ALL PHONES for you losers that can't live without instagram.

Windows phones are available at all price points, in markets all over the globe. from as low as 100 (Nokia 521) to the $699 (nokia 1020). The phablet is coming in September/October. Trust me, i think NOK has all its bases covered...

Didn't read. But I do know windows phone is trash. Windows phone will never own more than 10% of the market. only good thing is the hardware Nokia is providing. Phone os is still and always will be trash. But but wait till next year. That was I'm 2012 btw. 3 years in the game and they still shyt. 3 years into the game android had a 20% market share. Now its double that. And that's with a whole year of being exclusively on T-Mobile.

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

Didn't read. .

Most ignorant people dont. Thanks for proving my point.

Good day.

 

[Mac071415]

Tell em why you mad son. Nokia has all its bases covered yet windows phone still doesn't own less than 5% of the market share. and just cause some brands cars use the nokia maps, doesn't mean the rest of the world does. App support is trash.

 

[satam55]

Your ignroant. Get your facts straight.

App support is not TRASH as 45 out of the top 50 ios apps are on windows phone

Bing Maps is far from trash, but no biggie because you also are able to use NOKIA Maps which is actually FAR better than Google Maps due to the ability to use it OFFLINE. Furthermore its used by all the luxury car manufacturers, including Mercedes, BMW, and others. I understand if it is your OPINION that Nokia maps is trash, but the world disagrees.

Instagram can be used on ALL windows phones, not just one. There are NUMEROUS APPS that allow you to post to instagram, including Instance, 6tagram, Hippstamatic, and a few others. They are usable on ALL PHONES for you losers that can't live without instagram.

Windows phones are available at all price points, in markets all over the globe. from as low as 100 (Nokia 521) to the $699 (nokia 1020). The phablet is coming in September/October. Trust me, i think NOK has all its bases covered...