Finnish phone manufacturer Nokia chose Windows Phone over Google's Android operating system for its smartphones, so that it could entice mobile carriers with a "third alternative", according to Nokia's chief executive, Stephen Elop.
At the tail end of 2010, Nokia decided that it would replace its Symbian operating system and its two main options were the Android operating system, and Microsoft's push into the mobile arena with Windows Phone.
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But looking back on the announcement of Windows Phone in February 2011, did Elop regret not choosing the Android platform instead?
"I'm very happy with the decision we made," the Guardian reported Elop saying.
"What we were worried about a couple of years ago was the very high risk that one hardware manufacturer could come to dominate Android. We had a suspicion of who it might be, because of the resources available, the vertical integration, and we were respectful of the fact that we were quite late in making that decision. Many others were in that space already.
"Now fast forward to today and examine the Android ecosystem, and there's a lot of good devices from many different companies, but one company has essentially now become the dominant player," he said.
Elop was alluding to South Korean technology firm Samsung, which holds the biggest market share for Android devices. He said that in order to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple, Nokia would benefit more from being able to entice mobile carriers with a different operating system. Negotiations with mobile carriers are crucial, he said, in order to get a smartphone out to more consumers.
"Strategically that's important for us [to be offering an alternative OS] because having a conversation with [chief executive] Ralph de la Vega at AT&T, the first step in the conversation is the recognition that we're not Apple, we're not Samsung/Android - used to be Android/Samsung, it's actually about Samsung now - we're a third alternative," he said.
"And as an operator he wants to negotiate with different people and keep pressure on everybody and have the best range of options, he wants that third alternative. So strategically we have an opening with AT&T and every other operator in the world - because we've taken that path as the third ecosystem," he added.
Elop acknowledged that Nokia still faces an enormous challenge, but suggested that he would rather that Nokia be challenging with a new OS, than offering smartphones with an OS that is dominated by another provider.
"Now, it's hard - it's very difficult because we are starting as a challenger, we're having to build that credibility; but with partners like AT&T we're gaining that traction. But it was the right decision. You look at a number of other Android providers right now and they're in a tough spot," he said.
