Nokia willing to consider Android for tablet, claims Elop
updated 10:41 am EST, Mon February 4, 2013
Operating system decision forces Nokia to 'consider any option'
Nokia is willing to "consider any option" in choosing an operating system for a tablet, according to CEO Stephen Elop. Both Android and Windows will be looked at in a tablet's development, claimed Elop in an interview, though the company will primarily look towards Windows as it's tablet OS of choice.
Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Elop said that the "opportunity for companionship is something that any user is looking for," before speaking about the integrated experience of a Lumia 920 and a Windows tablet, PC, or Xbox. He also claimed that smaller 7-inch tablets had their merits compared to larger versions such as the iPad, though he stopped short of confirming rumors of a Nokia tablet launch at Mobile World Congress later this month. "We have made no decision or announced anything." Though it is possible for Nokia to release an Android device, Elop cited the overcrowded market and the dominance of Samsung in that area as reasons why it was a good move to steer clear.
Elop also spoke about how Windows Phone, and by extension Nokia, is directly competing with BlackBerry for third place in the smartphone market, citing the insufficient ecosystem of apps and services that BlackBerry offers it's customers. Business users "are certainly buying the hardware and operating system, but they are also buying the full range of applications that may be available for the device," with Elop drawing attention to Nokia's experience with photography. "Side by side, unquestionably you can see the difference."
