Developers, is the Nokia-Microsoft deal good for you?

That's today's question for mobile developers, particularly those with experience creating applications or services for Android, iOS or Windows Phone in addition to Symbian or even Meego. Nokia will be swapping out Symbian as its primary mobile platform for Windows Phone. Details are scant now on how soon other than general references to 2012.

You can respond in comments or by e-mailing joewilcox at gmail dot com. I will take your responses and put some of them together as another post. Please be specific why the Nokia-Microsoft deal would be or would not be good for you, particularly if you see mixed benefits and shortcomings.

My top-line analysis is simple, as previously stated here and here. The deal is great for Microsoft but rife with uncertainty and negatives for Nokia:

1. Microsoft isn't a hardware manufacturer, but will now get access through Nokia to all kinds of handset research and development. Windows Phone can improve, and Microsoft can pass the improvements onto other OEM licensees.

2. Windows Phone, which market share is low today, can only grow through Nokia's efficient manufacturing and distribution channels and its huge global market presence -- even if Nokia handset share declnes.

3. Nokia will lose its relationship with developers, which Microsoft will absorb through Windows Phone.

Writing for GigaOM, Christian Lindholm makes a case for "Why Nokia, Microsoft tie-up is good for developers": "Microsoft and Nokia have between them solved one of the most pesky questions for developers in recent times -- the third platform question...That question is now settled in favor of is Windows Phone 7. Developers will start to gravitate towards this platform, and see it as part of their development roadmap alongside Android and Apple. The question 'What are we doing about Windows Phone?' will start to be asked."

Robert Scoble also puts forth developer benefits in February 11 post "Dear Nokia fans: you're nuts!" He writes:

Does this get both into the game? Yes! Here's why.

1. Nokia has distribution. Distribution Google doesn't yet have. Nokia has dealers and stores in the weirdest places on earth. Places Apple won't have stores in for decades, if ever.

2. Microsoft has a great OS. I like it better than Android. If you actually USED a Windows Phone 7 you'd see that to be true.

3. Microsoft has great developer tools.

4. Microsoft has Xbox. Which has just been rejuvenated with Kinect (hottest selling product in history, even hotter than the iPad!) IE, some parts of Microsoft are cool!

5. Nokia has great hardware design and supply chains. They always have great cameras, great screens. Supply chains matter. A lot more than anyone thinks (the stuff Apple never talks about, but works its ass off on is supply chain management -- I got to see this first hand when I visited China).

You add that all up as a salad and now the smart developers have to take another look at Microsoft and Nokia.

Scoble's follow-up post is hearty reading: "Developers tell me I'm nuts and say Nokia, RIM, Microsoft are still screwed."

By the way, my broader analysis would be more positive if there had been a merger. Right now I observe mostly one-sided benefits in Microsoft's favor. But what are the benefits in your favor?

Some additional questions to ponder while answering the broader one:

• Symbian developers, will the announced Windows Phone change but period of transition impact your applications development/commitment for Nokia's platform?
• Symbian developers, do you expect the operating system switch to affect what mobile platforms your customers might choose?
• Android and/or iOS developers, do you buy into the "third platform" theory -- meaning would you now be more likely to write for Nokia/Windows Phone than Nokia/Symbian (or Meego)?
• All developers, does Nokia's move away from open-source Symbian to closed Windows Phone matter to you or your platform commitments?
• All developers, is CEO Stephen Elop right in saying that Nokia has a "burning platform?"

I really want to hear developer perspectives about the proposed deal and what it means to you. Again, please respond in comments or by e-mail -- to joewilcox at gmail dot com. Additionally, Betanews encourages reader submissions, particularly from developers or IT professionals. Last week's post by Robert Johnson, "Five things that excite me about developing for Internet Explorer 9,"  is great example. Please contact me by e-mail to make a submission rather than to just comment. You'll get a bigger voice and more meaningful direct response from other developers.