Google VP tips Nokia's hand for Friday

February 9, 2011: 9:02 AM ET

Nokia has a big decision to announce Friday and Google VP (and former Microsoft VP) Vic Gundotra might have the inside track.

Vic Gondotra is a Google (GOOG) VP who doesn't shy away from making abrupt public statements.  Last night, likely referring to Nokia's (NOK) impending February 11 announcement on whether it will go with Android or Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Phone 7, he tweeted:

Two turkeys do not make an Eagle

Gundotra was likely in on talks with Nokia and Google on licensing Android so he's in  a position to know whether or not Android was chosen to be Nokia's platform.

By itself, it would seem that he's implying that Nokia is going with Windows.  But the statement has even more historical significance.

In 2005, when Siemens and BenQ were forming an ill-fated alliance to take on Nokia in Europe, Nokia's then executive vice president and general manager of multimedia at Nokia, Anssi Vanjoki, said the following at a Nokia Connection event:

"The integration of the handset units of the two companies is equivalent to one big problem meeting another, Vanjoki commented on the Siemens-BenQ deal, while answering questions fielded by reporters on the sidelines of Nokia Connection 2005 (June 13-15). The effect of the merger deal should be limited because "two turkeys together won't make an eagle," Vanjoki asserted.

Vanjoki left Nokia one day before Nokia World this year in an apparent disagreement with the way the company was heading.

By the way, I could be entirely wrong.  Vic Gundotra could be a disciple of Ben Franklin, who would wholeheartedly disagree with the assertion that eagles are better than turkeys.

Join the Conversation
About This Author
Seth Weintraub
Seth Weintraub

Google went from searching the Web to worming its way into nearly every facet of business and government. Seth Weintraub unveils where the company is going, who it's competing with, who it's about to compete with and how market forces push the company to veer or adhere to its Don't Be Evil motto. For 15 years, Weintraub was a global IT director for a number of companies before becoming a blogger.

Email Seth
Featured Newsletters

Every morning, discover the companies, deals and trends in tech that are moving markets and making headlines.

Receive Fortune's newsletter on all the deals that matter, from Wall Street to Sand Hill Road. SUBSCRIBE

Covering the digital giants of Silicon Valley and beyond, an in-depth look at enterprise companies, and the startups disrupting them. Emailed twice weekly.

Anne Fisher answers career-related questions and offers helpful advice for business professionals.

Company Price Change % Change
Bank of America Corp... 7.44 0.29 4.06%
Sprint Nextel Corp 2.67 0.05 1.91%
Chesapeake Energy Co... 16.35 0.54 3.42%
Ford Motor Co 10.84 0.24 2.26%
Microsoft Corp 29.56 0.50 1.72%
Data as of 4:01pm ET
Index Last Change % Change
Dow 12,580.69 125.86 1.01%
Nasdaq 2,870.99 33.46 1.18%
S&P 500 1,332.42 14.60 1.11%
Treasuries 1.73 -0.01 -0.80%
Data as of 4:39pm ET
Most Popular
Sprint's Nextel network gets its death date: June 30, 2013
 
Home prices lowest since 2002
 
Most affordable U.S. cities to buy a home
 
Wall Street ditches Obama, backs Romney
 
Facebook drop reaches 10%, to below $29
 
Powered by WordPress.com VIP.