Microsoft have delivered a blow to the fans of Nokia’s Android phones.
The Redmond company, has announced that it will no longer produce Android phones.
This comes as a huge shock, especially as the Nokia X2 is yet to be released for sale. It certainly is an ill timed announcement, which could well hamper their sales. Of course, people could still buy the X2 as a souvenir.
The news came via an email addressed to Microsoft’s employees, from Stephen Elop, the Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Devices & Services, and the former CEO of Nokia.
This is what his email says about future of Nokia X.
“We will be particularly focused on making the market for Windows Phone. In the near term, we plan to drive Windows Phone volume by targeting the more affordable smartphone segments, which are the fastest growing segments of the market, with Lumia.”, Elop said. ” In addition to the portfolio already planned, we plan to deliver additional lower-cost Lumia devices by shifting select future Nokia X designs and products to Windows Phone devices. We expect to make this shift immediately while continuing to sell and support existing Nokia X products.”
Even though the words “select future Nokia X” gives a bit of hope, the words that follow in the next sentence, “support existing Nokia X products”, clearly reads as “This is the end of the road for Nokia’s Android plans”.
You can read the full email by Elop at Microsoft’s website. Microsoft laid off 18,000 employees today, you can read about that at Microsoft’s site.
This has indeed been a terrible day for Nokia and Microsoft. RIP Nokia X Android.
