Elop sought to dispel rumors that he was essentially sent by Microsoft to take the helm at Nokia in order to make this kind of deal. “I am not a Trojan horse,” he said. The entire management team and board of Nokia were engaged throughout the decision process and they were in agreement with the decision to go with Windows Phone, he said.

Nokia was “pursued” by both Google and Microsoft, which each saw “significant value” in a decision by Nokia to use their software, he said.

Google may have stood to benefit more, if it had won a deal to supply Android for Nokia phones.

“If you combine the current market share of Android with the market share that Nokia could deliver to Android over the next couple of years, it’s a very large number. One could believe the mobile industry thereafter would be some form of duopoly,” Elop said. The market would be essentially split between Android and Apple, he said.

Nokia went with Microsoft because it creates a very different dynamic in the market, he said. “We have created a three-horse race,” he said, repeating a comment that indicates he discounts the impact of Research in Motion's Blackberry platform.