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Nokia was in serious trouble before Elop joined. Remember his "burning platform" memo? It was right on the money. Nokia's nascent smartphone platform would have
by tjmc 13y ago
Nokia was in serious trouble before Elop joined. Remember his "burning platform" memo? It was right on the money. Nokia's nascent smartphone platform would have been stillborn. The head start that Apple and Google had in terms of apps was just too great.
His mistake was choosing Windows phone over Android. They really were the only 2 realistic choices. With Google producing their own competing hardware and buying Motorola on one side and his former employer offering bags of cash on the other, is it really that surprising?
Looks like history will judge him harshly, but I think he took a hospital pass.
- mtgx 13y agoBut you're only comparing that decision to choosing Meego. From that point of view, you're right. But it's not a dramatically better decision. Choosing Android would've still been the right decision to make Nokia one of the at least top 2 Android manufacturers right now. So in that way, Elop actually sabotaged Nokia (well, a lot of the blame probably goes to the board, too).
- tjmc 13y agoLet's not forget the financial side of the decision. MS were desparate to get a decent hardware partner, willing to pay handsomely and Nokia was bleeding red ink. Google already had all of the Asian manufacturers in their pocket plus Motorola so they didn't need to compete. So if you're Elop - needing time and cash to turn the ship around and getting the best offer from your former colleagues - what are you going to do? I agree in hindsight Android still may have been the right call, but we'll probably never know. So far it hasn't been a saviour for anyone other than Samsung. I think given the time he got there and the choices he had your description of Elop is a bit harsh, but I suspect it will also become the conventional wisdom.