Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has spoken out about Google's recent $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, suggesting that Android vendors such as Samsung and HTC should be concerned about the possibility of preferential treatment from Google.

"If I happened to be someone who was an Android manufacturer or an operator, or anyone with a stake in that environment, I would be picking up my phone and calling certain executives at Google and say 'I see signs of danger ahead'," Elop told a Helsinki seminar.

Though Nokia itself did consider Android for its next major smartphone platform, the Finnish firm decided to align with Microsoft and Windows Phone in February, given the perceived "commoditisation risk" associated with Google's mobile OS.

Elop appeared to justify the decision to enter into the broad smartphone partnership with Microsoft when commenting further on the Google-Motorola deal:

"The very first reaction I had was very clearly the importance of the third ecosystem and the importance of the partnership that we announced on February 11, it is more clear than ever before."

And whilst Elop foresees trouble in store for the various rival Android manufacturers as a result of the Motorola purchase, our own Jon Jordan agrees that the Nokia head is most likely delighted to have dodged a potential bullet.

[source: Reuters]