Despite the drama in the title, I don't feel that Microsoft is loosing.

Nokia deliberately handing it to MS like some people tend to put it higher up in this thread is not entirely true given the size of Nokia's organization.

I am certain that, apart from Elop who must have had briefing from MS, only a limited part of the decision making staff that handed over Nokia plate were aware of the potential of promising side projects such as Maemo.

Microsoft really did not misunderstand the arrogant quote: N900 is step 4 out of 5.

Windows Phone has not known great succes yet. But likewise there has been no great success for the Linux phone.

In 2010-11, the worst nightmare for MS would have been a high end Maemo device that got the critics raving about the mobile devices development status quo finally disrupted, innovative etc..

Why? A considerable crowd that finds itself confronted and accustomed with a Linux prompt on their telephone is not something MS is wishing for.

Linux should be hidden, unknown and embedded or else it could spread further as a desktop OS alternative and eventually become a threat to Windows coming emerging from the immensely popular mobile phones market.


MS and their buddy intel did a great job to prevent this to happen. The rest is side effect. Windows 10 is going to get at you.

It is now much better positioned to take over your device from the desktop side.

Do we really think that Windows Phone could not license Myriad for providing their Windows Phone OS with an Android compatibility layer?
Or purchase Myriad if they wanted a quick success for their Windows 8.1?

See what they did with Pureview (no more development since 2011-12)
What use did they make of the production capabilities at Nokia (only make candybar phones)

For them this Windows Phone thing has just been a side project / placeholder.

In any case you won't be needing and Windows Phone to experience Mobile Microsoft goodness.

Windows 10 phone will have some "new" features such as possibility to connect mouse, keyboard, display (I vaguely recall a certain brand offered this before but nobody cared)

But you won't be missing out on your Windows experience if you are Android fan, you will use a Microsoft app on your Android and put all your data in the MS cloud.

And you will be using Windows 10 on your desktop or touch screen hybrid notebook to take full advantage of the integrated blah blah..

Anyway Windows Phone platform is just a name..
Windows 10 etc will not let go of your mobile experience and is not dead at all.
Remember they have Skype too.