Nokia is examining the ever-growing tablet market, looking to diversify its offerings to include both smartphones and those phone/computer hybrid touch-based devices that have become so popular.

CEO Stephen Elop confirmed with the Australian Financial News that Nokia is looking into that space, and would consider both the Windows or Android platform as options.

Naturally, the former would make the most sense. Nokia has jumped full force into bed with Microsoft to support the Windows Phone OS in its smartphones, replacing the Symbian platform that left the company, as Elop analogized back in 2011, like a "man standing on a burning platform, waiting to either jump into the freezing waters below or be consume." Having a tablet, or line of tablets, that would work seamlessly with the phones, using the same familiar interface, would make for the most logical setup.

However, Android is currently the top smartphone OS, with support from a number of handset vendors, growing consumer interest, and exploding marketshare in both tablets and smartphones. That said, it might be beneficial for Nokia to play its hand at both operating systems.

Nokia has had a rough ride these past few years. While the company is still in the top five mobile phone vendor list for worldwide marketshare, it lost its long-held top spot to the likes of Samsung and Apple.

The decision to support Windows, and forecasts that Windows Phone 8 will see a steady rise over the next four years, puts Nokia in a good spot. Still, Android has a far lead ahead of others, making it an attractive proposition to jump on board that bandwagon as well.

It was almost exactly two years ago http://www.marketnews.ca/content/index/page?pid=8549 that Nokia confirmed it would be switching its focus to the Windows Phone platform. Latest research by IDC reports that 52.5 million tablets were shipped around the globe in Q4 2012, representing year-over-year growth of 75.3%.

Rumours swirl that a big announcement Nokia has planned for the first day of Mobile World Congress, which takes place in Barcelona near the end of this month, will be the debut of a Windows-based tablet.

Stay tuned.

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