This also sounds like the pull outs by the other companies have hurt the Foundation, so if Nokia doesn't back it the Foundation is dead.
So if you were Nokia, would you continue to fund the foundation that has its own roap-map that includes a major revision of the OS and UI that would maybe produce products by maybe 2H-2011?
Nokia could certainly kill off Symbian, but what are they left with until MeeGo comes around. Even if MeeGo does come around, is their strategy really to go with one high-end platform. I really doubt MeeGo could run decently on lower hardware. This would basically kill off Nokia.
They could go Android, but like we're all saying, then what is the differentiator? It certainly isn't services. So they now become just another handset manufacturer?
If Nokia is serious about keeping Symbian, maybe kill off S40/S60 and whatever flavor OSes in developed countries, adapt Symbian UI to be more flexible (hopefully deliverable through Qt) and User Friendly and focus on fewer series (why do we need E series? Especially with the new C devices). Maybe C and N. I'm not even sure what the point of the X series or the number series is.
Possibly market high-end N devices that can dual boot Symbian/MeeGo. That would be interesting.... you know assuming Qt can unify the platforms.
I think Elop needs to prove he's committed to developing Nokia's platforms and ideologies (Connecting People, not just folks that can afford the latest and greatest), actually be a "visionary" leader, and, again, not turning around becoming just another handset manufacturer or selling off Nokia to please all the rich a-holes that just care about the stock price.
