NEW DELHI: Nokia could have switched loyalty to Google's Android operating system after 2014, according to a blog on New York Times. According to Nick Wingfield's blog on NYT's Bits Blog, "Before Microsoft reached a deal to buy Nokia's phone business, there was a possibility that Nokia could have switched its smartphones to Google's Android operating system sometime after late 2014."
A Nokia team reportedly began testing Android OS on the company's Lumia handsets long before the company signed the dotted line on acquisition by Microsoft of its mobile business. The blog suggests that these efforts were underway sometime between 2012 and early 2013. The blog quotes two people briefed on the plan. The testing of Android OS on Lumia phones is believed to be the company's "plan B", to negotiate better with partners.
According to the blog, Nokia using Android OS wasn't a part of Microsoft's acquisition discussions with the company, however, Microsoft executives were aware of the existence of the project. Analysts believe that it is likely the plan impacted Microsoft's decision to acquire Nokia.
According to another report in The Verge, Nokia had plans of unveiling an Android-powered Asha device in 2014.
Nokia and Microsoft made the deal to use Windows Phone OS in 2011 and the former had the option to exit the partnership at the end of 2014. Nokia has long been criticised for choosing Windows Phone over Android, which many believe led to the slump in its global market share.
Both Nokia and Microsoft refused a comment on the blog.
Source: TOI
