CEO Stephen Elop during Nokia’s earnings call:

Nokia must compete on an ecosystem-to-ecosystem basis. In addition to great devices, we must build, catalyze, and/or join a competitive ecosystem.

This article by Business Insider suggests Android as that competitive ecosystem. I think Nokia should side with Microsoft.

Microsoft is in need of a large volume partner and they could make lots of concessions for Nokia especially since the old Windows Mobile outsold WM7 last quarter. I think the keyword here from Elop was “catalyze”. This would allow them to grow with Microsoft and maybe help mold WM7 going forward instead of just jumping in with everyone else in using Android without playing a part in its future development. Doesn’t sound like Nokia, they have always gone with ecosystems they could really be a part of like partnering with Intel and the Symbian foundation.

However, he also said this:

The strategy shift will be be “elegant in its simplicity”

Maybe they have developed a Symbian based/type front for Android that would allow them to position it as something different/unique but with the same front end that their users have come to know. Also android is free, keeping Nokia’s costs low which is their competitive advantage.

We will find out on Feb 11.