Microsoft and Nokia vow to challenge Apple and Google
Microsoft and Nokia have vowed to take on Apple and Google in the fast-growing smartphone market by being the “most friendly” to mobile operators.
The chief executives of the world’s largest software company and the world’s largest mobile phone maker said operators were “very excited” about Microsoft and Nokia’s new “alliance” to create a third smartphone “ecosytem” to challenge Apple and Google.
“The world is shifting from a battle of devices to a war of ecosystems,” Stephen Elop, Nokia’s new chief executive said at the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona yesterday. “Microsoft and Nokia together represent a natural partnership.”
Mr Elop said the world’s biggest mobile operators were “all smiles” about the tie-up because Nokia has traditionally been more amiable to telecoms providers than Apple or Google. “This is good news for operators,” he said. “We are in a position to create a third ecosystem. We know what it means to be the most friendly to the operators.”
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, said: “Windows Phone will be the most operator friendly”.
Apple has long-angered operators, particularly in Europe, by demanding a cut of ongoing customer revenues. Apple also invoked the wrath of operators last year by proposing to bypass operators by removing the need for operator SIM cards in the next version of its iPhone. Apple is understood to have since backtracked from the plan after operators complained.
