Not in the case of Nokia apparently, as Elop has confirmed that the agreement between the two isn't your standard OEM agreement, with technologies going both ways. To be honest too, Microsoft don't really care of Nokia be given leeway to customize the OS, mainly because Nokia has clearly stated that Wp7 is the primary OS, and they won't be dabbling with Android.

From my reading of the releases a few days, Nokia did talk to Google, but there were several things Nokia didn't like.

1. Giving up control - Google allows you to customize everything, but as many have noticed, they want control over the more important bits, like location services (Google Maps, Location Sensing).

2. Opposition from telco companies - right now, it's either android or iOS. They would really like Wp7 to be an alternative (or more of a hammer to make sure Google and Apple understand that they have alternatives and can't be pushed around)

3. Differentiation - Heck, become another faceless android os phone?

I don't think anyone here is saying Android is bland in monotonous. Well, unless if too much exposure (heck, CSL also now producing android phones) is making a brand monotonous.

Android is a problem because everyone is using it. And differentiation is very important if everyone is using a common platform, you could be lost in a sea of competitors and you could very well end up losing customers, because they have no particular urge to buy your phone, because it is so similar to each other. Motoblur, Timescape, Sense UI? These are the UI customization by Motorola, SE and HTC. They needed to be different to make sure their product stood out.

In the case of WP7, their problem is two fold, mainly because HTC, Samsung and LG, the three comitted to WP7 seems to be producing very boring phone, almost refusing to innovate more that the baseline hardware that Microsoft has specified. In the case of HTC, they shoved WP7 into HD2 and called them HD7, all the while drowning the Wp7 portfolio with successions of Android phones.

And the fact also remains that these three manufacturers were quiet happy to sell the hardware without worrying too much about the software. It's free some more. But the scary part is as long as you use an Android phone, whatever you do with it is being tracked by Google so they can know where, what, who you are. In light of that, free means having your habits go to the internet.

What happens now is because Google said android is free, it gets shoved into every device imaginable, and customized sometimes to its detriment. You now have tons of devices that works using a common platform with all the advantages, and here it is, disadvantages.

Android keeps being a work in progress. Releases after releases that offer incremental updates and improvement. Because of that, compatibility goes out the window, and you have unfortunate ones that are stuck with stale food (aka old versions) that cannot update. If you cannot update, then the marketplace is useless, since now you have to go by platform. This apps works on 1.6, this one 2.1 only. This app works on this device and not that device. Don't believe me? Ask Rovio, the Angry Birds developer who basically admitted that they won't be able to get it working on all android version.

Why do you have so many software developer happy working with Iphone? It's the same as why console games experience is consistent and well executed - the developers know what the capabilities of the target device are, and codes appropriately. Microsoft tried following a mashup of Android and Iphone philosophy by specifying a baseline (a target for all developers to develop apps for) making it easier to develop and test for. That's why, if one were to ask any developers, they would readily admit that the easiest platform to develop for is Wp7.

Why isn't Wp7 gaining traction then? Barring Nokia, no one is actually actively promoting Wp7, or even are promoting it at the same level as their other offering. HTC only has three models, Samsung has what? One? Where's LG?

So, in short..

1. WP7 needed a champion, a company that would only promote Wp7, instead of having affair (or madu) with Android, Bada, etc etc. They got that with Nokia.

2. Android is fragmenting - Simply put, there are too many variations of software and hardware out there that Android Marketplace will never be able to duplicate Apple's App store or Windows Marketplace ability to buy apps and know it definitely will work on your device.

3. That also means you'd have to actually target your coding to spesific device, instead of platform.

Yes, why all the hurt from Android fans whichever way Nokia goes. The thing that a lot of people missed is the fact that Nokia is doing what Nokia thinks it's best for Nokia. And going android wasn't in their opinion in the best interest of Nokia.

But then again, it's the norm for anyone supporting open source acting like juvenile jerks. I mean, in discussing Nokia, Microsoft, Symbian and WP7, why does the Android contigent need to come here and make noise because Nokia didn't go the Android route. Not just that, hoping the partnership would fail?

Symbian supporters have every right to question the move, because they are the most affected ones concerning this decision. But whatever Nokia chooses doesn't really affect Android as it is right now. Heck, you have HTC, Samsung, LG, a bunch of Chinese OEM, Toshiba, Acer, a bunch of Chinese Tablet OEM, CSL, Spice, a bunch of Indian Operater, Google, etc etc that is producing Android phones. You still want Nokia? Why? So Google can know the exact moment and exact time you pick your nose, and try and sell you a nose picker? What? You didn't know that there's no such thing as free?

Everyone in the open source world hated the fact that Microsoft still rules the OS world, despite all their attempts otherwise. Problem is, they are not coming up with a decent alternative to Windows. They had a chance with all the Vista brouhaha, but they didn't even manage to take advantage of that. Why?

Over sized Ego, and a Self-Serving Ethnocentric view. To them, Nokia not using Android, is an Affront to the Best Operating System for Mobile there is, and should be dealt by putting the other platform down as often and as frequent as they can. Never mind the weaknesses of Android, whoever points that out is a Traitor to the movement.

Take it in that context next time an Android fan comes here and start spouting the Android gospel.

Competition is good.