Verizon Wireless is the largest carrier in the U.S. and their actions have a major impact (Think “Droid Does” campaign). At Mobile World Congress this week Verizon CTO Tony Melone came out and said he is rather skeptical about Microsoft’s ability to mean their ambitious sales goals for Windows Phone 7. The statement does seem to have odd timing as Verizon is on the verge of offering their first Windows Phone devices.
He’s quoted saying he doesn’t feel “Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship.” His remark is seemingly in response to one made by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop that he desires to make the smartphone market into a “three-horse race” between Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 7. They seemingly forgot about RIM and its BlackBerry, which still has a large market and is really a phone or two away from coming back, not to mention Hewlett-Packard seems to have corrected Palm’s woes.
Melone says he thinks that “right now the three OS players we see for our network are Android, Apple, and RIM.” I have to agree. Maybe overseas Nokia and Windows can shake up the market but they have lost a lot of market share as well as mindshare in the U.S. and have a long way to go to make that up.
I hope Nokia and Windows do make a push however because competition drives innovation. What are your takes on the Nokia-Windows marriage and Verizon’s stance on the market?
Source: CNET