Analyst: Microsoft and Nokia must join forces in phone market, or perish

Andre Yoskowitz
2 Feb 2011 20:58

Berenberg Bank analyst Adnaan Ahmad has written an open letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop this week, telling the companies they must join forces in the phone market, or disappear.
Ahmad says that Elop should immediately make a deal to have exclusive access to Windows Phone 7, and commit to a date for a product shipment.
Elop admitted last week that Nokia "must build, catalyze and/or join a competitive ecosystem" in order to adapt to the fast moving smartphone industry. Nokia has notably lagged.
Continued the analyst (via Bloomberg):

Nokia is no longer in denial. Microsoft also faces very big strategic challenges as smartphones and tablets attack your highly profitable installed base business.

Nokia, despite being the world's top phone maker, has practically no share in the United States and access to Windows Phone 7 will finally give it an American presence.
Finally, Ahmad takes a brutal shot at Nokia's latest mobile OS, MeeGo, saying "it’s the biggest joke in the tech industry right now, and will put you even further behind Apple and Google."