The future of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform rests almost entirely on Nokia, according to Yves Maitre, a senior VP at Orange. Apparently "Windows Phone is the lowest-selling platform in Orange's Europe, Middle East, and Africa markets", after the usual suspects. A lot depends on what Nokia unveils this week, though Yves is optimistic: "When you have a Nokia phone," he said, "it's like you're driving a Mercedes Benz".

At least that's the message shared by Yves Maitre when he sat down with CNET this week. The senior vice president of devices and mobile multimedia at Orange says that Windows Phone is the lowest-selling platform in Orange's Europe, Middle East, and Africa markets, behind Android in first place, iOS, and BlackBerry, which he says enjoys "strong" sales.

"Honestly, it hasn't been as successful as we expected," he said of Windows Phone, adding that customers are waiting for Nokia's big unveiling to decide. The well-known Finnish brand is anticipated to offer the "pure Microsoft experience," Maitre said in our interview at CNET's San Francisco headquarters.