Gizmodo es Español reports on some surprising words by Nokia big chief Stephen Elop. Asked about a potential Android phone in Nokia’s near future, Elop said that “anything is possible”.
El País: Do you discard launching an Android phone next year?
Elop: In the current ecosystem wars we are using Windows Phone as our weapon. But we are always thinking about what’s coming next, what will be the role of HTML 5, Android… HTML5 could make the platform itself — being Android, Windows Phone or any other — irrelevant in the future, but it’s still too soon [to tell]. Today we are committed and satisfied with Microsoft, but anything is possible.
It’s only logical to assume that Nokia is keeping other options on the table. After all, their contract with Microsoft is non-exclusive. But it’s surprising that Elop is admitting that “anything is possible” so soon after the launch of Windows Phone 8 even while he says that they are totally committed to Windows Phone right now.
Asked about Nokia’s critical situation, Elop argues that the tide is turning, with Lumia 920 being a big success. In fact, he actually sees Nokia getting double-digit marketshare and then fighting with Google and Apple at the same level:
I can’t give figures, but the first objective, without giving any dates, is getting a double-digit marketshare. Then, keep pushing and establish an equilibrium with the other two big ecosystems, Apple and Android.
Quite the optimist, this Finnish dude. Must be all that aquavit and pickled herring. [El País via Gizmodo en Español]