According to the New York Times website, informed sources revealed that long before Microsoft and Nokia started acquisition negotiations, a team within Nokia had successfully run the Android system on Lumia phones, and Microsoft was already aware of the existence of this project.
In a sense, Nokia's shift to the Android camp is not surprising. Companies usually develop "Plan B" in case they need to adjust strategies or demand better terms from their partners. Informed sources said that technically speaking, running the Android system on Nokia’s phones was not difficult.
However, a fully functional Nokia Android phone did add considerable bargaining chips for Nokia in its negotiations with Microsoft. It also reminded Microsoft that Nokia could possibly abandon Windows Phone and join the Android camp, which currently accounts for three-quarters of the global smartphone market share.
Spokespersons for both Nokia and Microsoft declined to comment on this matter.
In 2011, Nokia reached an agreement with Microsoft to use the Windows Phone system on its smartphones, but Nokia has the right to terminate the agreement by the end of 2014. Ending the agreement would harm both parties: since Nokia contributes over 80% of the sales volume for Windows Phone handsets, Microsoft's loss is self-evident; as for Nokia, such large-scale product adjustments would also cause it significant losses.
Critics believe that Nokia's decision several years ago to choose Windows Phone was a wrong move. Nokia's smartphone market share plummeted sharply from 32.8% in 2010 to 3% in the first half of 2013.
There is no definitive evidence showing whether Nokia’s current situation would be better if it had chosen Android. However, due to the ability to conduct deeper customization of the Android system and access to a vast number of apps, Nokia's position might be better than it is now.
The current status of Nokia's Android project remains unclear. After Microsoft completes its acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business early next year, this project may be terminated.