Huawei: Microsoft pulls Nokia ahead of Windows Phone adjustments

Microsoft has been leading Nokia in the development of Windows Phone devices for some time and that problem will continue to exist now that Microsoft takes over Nokia’s telephone division. That says a top man of Huawei in an interview.

Because Microsoft gives Nokia access to APIs that other manufacturers are not allowed to access, Nokia can distinguish itself more than other manufacturers with its Windows Phone devices, Shao Yang of Huawei Devices CEO Shao Yang told the Indian blog WPXbox.

The problem, according to Yang, is that access to APIs is not the same for all manufacturers. “In the beginning everyone started with Windows Phone, but only Nokia had exclusive access to certain APIs. Now that Microsoft takes over Nokia, that problem persists.” Nokia stipulated in the agreement with Microsoft that it would have access to more APIs than other manufacturers. Presumably that way, for example, the Glimp screen in Windows Phone is possible.

Huawei has more doubts about Windows Phone. The licensing costs would drive up the price of smartphones with Windows Phone, while the ecosystem would be less developed than that of Android. In addition, devices would look too much alike, partly due to Microsoft’s strict rules regarding the customization of Windows Phones.

If Huawei is openly frustrated with this situation, it indicates a problem for Microsoft. Huawei was the only manufacturer besides Nokia to release Windows Phones last year. However, Huawei adapted almost nothing to Windows Phone on its Ascend W1. Microsoft is in the process of acquiring Nokia’s phone division. The acquisition would be completed in April.