Why Microsoft Is Nokia's Last Best Hope [OPINION]

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Microsoft and Nokia have very similar approaches when it comes to developer communications. Both companies do a good job of getting developers the tools that they need.

Developing and deploying apps is about more than just the SDK and the toolkit -- it's also about the underlying market infrastructure and the support. For all of Android's strengths, Google's overall developer support is still lackluster and deploying pay apps in countries that are not supported by Google Checkout requires developers to make individual carrier agreements or seek alternative app stores.

Meanwhile, with Windows Phone 7, Nokia will be pushing developers onto an ecosystem for which Microsoft will provide the tools, documentation and support, and Nokia will still be bringing its own backend infrastructure to the party. Nokia's press release specifically states that its operator billing agreements will be carried over into Windows Phone 7. In other words, developers that follow Nokia to Windows Phone 7 won't be losing the existing support ecosystems already in place.

Moreover, because Nokia is coming on-board as a strategic partner and not just as another OEM, the company should have an impact on future developments of Windows Phone 7's hardware and software.

For developers, that means that the innovations that Nokia has introduced in the past may find their way into Windows Phone 7. Nokia has reiterated that it sees this partnership as a way to bring Windows Phone to more geographies and more price points. For developers looking to target lower-priced phones while still working on a current, modern platform, Nokia's contributions to Windows Phone 7 might just make the platform more attractive.

Execution is Essential

Partnering with Microsoft may have been Nokia's only option, but it isn't a guarantee of success. As Google's Vic Gundotra tweeted, "two turkeys do not make an eagle." I would take issue with classifying either Microsoft or Nokia as turkeys, but the point is, this is a partnership that absolutely relies on a solid execution strategy.

The faster that Nokia and Microsoft can sign a definitive agreement, the better. Both Nokia and Microsoft have been slow to adapt to the changing nature of the smartphone market. The longer it takes for the first Nokia-branded Windows Phone to hit stores, the lower the chances for success it will have.