alterbridge86
New member
With all these bits and pieces coming out I'm beginning to put things together...here's my theory:
As we all know, back with WP7 MS partnered with Nokia to provide a first class hardware/software combination. This gave Nokia payments of hundreds of millions of dollars, in exchange for some kickass hardware and quality software enhancements.
With WP8, Nokia announces their new devices, everyone oooh's and ahhh's because they are some sexy devices, but no word on carriers, cost, etc. Then a few weeks later, HTC unveils their new devices, with some surprising comments from Microsoft...that HTC is the "Premiere" launch partner for WP8, and that the HTC devices will even use the Windows Phone name in their title, ala the HTC Windows Phone 8X. This seemed puzzling at the time, since MS was paying so much money to Nokia for them to be the premiere partner.
Fast forward again, and now we have all this news about the 920 being exclusive to ATT, and the 820 being semi-exclusive with only variants appearing on other carriers. So now the picture begins to come into view. MS had to be aware of these deals Nokia made, and I think behind closed doors MS was pissed at Nokia for not having the device across all major carriers (which MS knows is absolutely necessary to achieve penetration in the iOS/Android stranglehold). As a result, MS taps HTC to be their launch partner, since the 8X and 8S are supposed to be showing up on all three major carriers that are interested in WP (and i would really hope that MS has some sort of agreement with HTC requiring them to deliver a phone on all carriers).
This frustration for MS I think lends even more credence to the rumors of the Surface Phone, and just like the Surface tablet, I think MS has lost all faith in their OEM partners in both mobile and PC. This is why they have begun to make the transition into a Devices and Software company. I am sure that when the surface phone does land, it will be available on any carrier that will take it. I doubt MS will be swayed by ATT (or any other carrier) throwing a few bucks at them, since they aren't even close to being cash strapped and desperate like Nokia and even HTC to an extent.
Thats just my theory anyway...in any event, I really hope that the HTC and Samsung devices at least make it to Verizon...I really could care less about Nokia at this point with their blatant cash grab from ATT...long live Windows Phone!
As we all know, back with WP7 MS partnered with Nokia to provide a first class hardware/software combination. This gave Nokia payments of hundreds of millions of dollars, in exchange for some kickass hardware and quality software enhancements.
With WP8, Nokia announces their new devices, everyone oooh's and ahhh's because they are some sexy devices, but no word on carriers, cost, etc. Then a few weeks later, HTC unveils their new devices, with some surprising comments from Microsoft...that HTC is the "Premiere" launch partner for WP8, and that the HTC devices will even use the Windows Phone name in their title, ala the HTC Windows Phone 8X. This seemed puzzling at the time, since MS was paying so much money to Nokia for them to be the premiere partner.
Fast forward again, and now we have all this news about the 920 being exclusive to ATT, and the 820 being semi-exclusive with only variants appearing on other carriers. So now the picture begins to come into view. MS had to be aware of these deals Nokia made, and I think behind closed doors MS was pissed at Nokia for not having the device across all major carriers (which MS knows is absolutely necessary to achieve penetration in the iOS/Android stranglehold). As a result, MS taps HTC to be their launch partner, since the 8X and 8S are supposed to be showing up on all three major carriers that are interested in WP (and i would really hope that MS has some sort of agreement with HTC requiring them to deliver a phone on all carriers).
This frustration for MS I think lends even more credence to the rumors of the Surface Phone, and just like the Surface tablet, I think MS has lost all faith in their OEM partners in both mobile and PC. This is why they have begun to make the transition into a Devices and Software company. I am sure that when the surface phone does land, it will be available on any carrier that will take it. I doubt MS will be swayed by ATT (or any other carrier) throwing a few bucks at them, since they aren't even close to being cash strapped and desperate like Nokia and even HTC to an extent.
Thats just my theory anyway...in any event, I really hope that the HTC and Samsung devices at least make it to Verizon...I really could care less about Nokia at this point with their blatant cash grab from ATT...long live Windows Phone!