Intel CEO says Nokia quit MeeGo because of financial reasons, to find new partners for its OS

During a conference call, Intel CEO Paul Otellini claimed Nokia abandoned the MeeGo project because of financial reasons.

He further expressed his surprise that Nokia's CEO sided with Windows Phone rather than Android, and claimed MeeGo was the best option, also noting it would be hard for Nokia to differentiate itself from other manufacturers in the WP ecosystem:

"I wouldn't have made the decision he [Elop] made, I would probably have gone to Android if I were him. MeeGo would have been the best strategy but he concluded he couldn't afford it.

It would have been less hard on Android, on MeeGo he could have done it."

Despite Nokia's decision to side with WP, Paul Otellini remains optimistic that Intel will find new partners for MeeGo:

"We will find other partners. The carriers still want a third ecosystem and the carriers want an open ecosystem, and that's the thing that drives our motivation."

MeeGo definitely looked promising, and probably still does so, but, understandably, questions have been raised about its future since Nokia joined the Windows Phone bandwagon. What's your opinion on this one - do you think MeeGo has a future in the smartphone/tablet business?

source: Reuters