Neither Microsoft, Nokia, nor anyone else should fork Android. It’s unforkable.

[anuseems]

As happens from time to time, the suggestion has been made that Microsoft cancel Windows Phone, and instead fork Android. It's not the first time this suggestion has been made. It's probably not the last, either.

It's a poor idea. Google has worked to make Android functionally unforkable, with no practical way to simultaneously fork the platform and take advantage of its related strengths: abundant developers, and abundant applications.

The outline of the "Microsoft should fork Android" argument is as follows:

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/02/neither-microsoft-nokia-nor-anyone-else-should-fork-android-its-unforkable/

Edited February 9, 2014 by anuseems

[Nastrahl]

And it would be really stupid since they already got a Linux operating system based on Debian that works better. Why would they go for Android ?

[GRiM]

Microsoft = Windows

Can you honestly see them EVER using Linux on one of their device instead of their own OS's?

What a ludicrous suggestion, Its not gunna happen.

[Nastrahl]

Microsoft = Windows

Can you honestly see them EVER using Linux on one of their device instead of their own OS's?

What a ludicrous suggestion, Its not gunna happen.

Before they bought Nokia, Nokia had a Linux based OS.

Microsoft already used some BSD codes for their Windows though.

[Turk]

A response to "Analysis: Microsoft Must Kill Windows Phone And Fork Android" http://www.nsaneforums.com/topic/206052-analysis-microsoft-must-kill-windows-phone-and-fork-android/

[GRiM]

Microsoft = Windows

Can you honestly see them EVER using Linux on one of their device instead of their own OS's?

What a ludicrous suggestion, Its not gunna happen.

Before they bought Nokia, Nokia had a Linux based OS.

Microsoft already used some BSD codes for their Windows though.

And what possible relevance does a past device made by a completely different company have to whether or not Microsoft would release a Linux based device?