Microsoft-Built Smartphone Could Irritate Hardware Partners, Harm Nokia 100
Nerval's Lobster writes "Rumors have circulated for weeks that Microsoft intends to release a smartphone of its own design and manufacture, embracing the strategy that drove Apple's iPhone to such enormous success over the past few years. While releasing a branded smartphone offers several potential benefits—look at the revenue and brand recognition Apple's earned as a result of the iPhone—such a strategy also carries significant risks for Microsoft. First, it could alienate smartphone partners such as Nokia, which would find itself competing against a high-end device backed by Microsoft's sizable marketing dollars. (Given the Finnish phone-maker's already perilous situation, that could prove ruinous.) But a branded smartphone could also convince hardware manufacturers that Microsoft really is 'all in' on building its own devices, which could lead to all sorts of drama."
Re:So... just like Google? (Score:5, Interesting)
Yeah, it's kind of funny that Nokia didn't want to be just another Android phone manufacturer, but now they've become just another Microsoft phone manufacturer.
Still, I'm sure Elop is just the man to get Nokia out of this sticky situation. Perhaps Microsoft will give him his old job back, once the job's been done....sorry, I mean once Nokia is beyond economic repair.
Re:So... just like Google? (Score:4, Interesting)
Microsoft phones have very little latitude in hardware design, so there is next to no difference between phone A and phone B. So an Android phone Google is not going to be much like a Samsung Galaxy Note III, but a Microsoft phone will be a lot like a Nokia.
Actually Windows Phones have very little lattitude in minimum and maximum tech specs of screens, no variation on number of hard buttons, nor processors. There are minimum memory requirements as well. Hardware in terms of style, is purely up to the manufacturer.
However, I think that the fear is that Microsoft will put out a phone with a *more powerful* processor and/or a *higher resolution* display than they allow the other Windows Phone licensees to, thus ensuring that no OEM can match Microsoft's top-of-the-line phone.
Seriously? (Score:4, Interesting)
Microsoft fucks over partner. News at... Seriously? If this comes unexpected to you, you must have joined /. - or, indeed, this plant - very recently. If I recall correctly, ever since Nokia got put in chains, the question asked here was not if, but when this would happen.
Lesson: If you get in bed with Microsoft, you are a whore. And whores get screwed.