Back in 2010, Nokia made a decision to adopt Windows Phone as their primary smartphone platform. This decision was aimed to help Nokia better compete in the smartphone market against iOS and Android and also give Microsoft a chance to rise to the number three smartphone position.
Two years have gone by and Microsoft is still on the verge of releasing a version of Windows Phone which can compete against iOS and Android, after putting an end to their Windows Phone 7 after less than a year.
Despite the slow progress of Windows Phone being Microsoft’s fault, the software giant is even rumored to be working on a Surface Phone, confident that they can pick up where their manufacturing partners couldn’t.
This wouldn’t be an issue for most of Microsoft’s smartphone partners who use Android as a great avenue for income. However you would think Nokia would consider this a huge threat. Surprisingly Nokia actually welcomed the competition from manufacturers.
"It's certainly a stimulant to the ecosystem. We're encouraging of HTC and Samsung and Microsoft or whomever to have devices in the market and to be making whatever investments that helps spur the ecosystem on.”Obviously this doesn't confirm the Surface Phone rumors and with the close working relationship Microsoft is maintaining with smartphone manufacturers like HTC, it would be a surprise if they produce a phone claiming they are not happy with what vendors bring to the market, as was the claim with the Microsoft Surface.
source - TheVerge