That is pretty much incorrect, Nokia used a decent universal compatible reasonable non-proprietary AV-plug definition until they started their messed-up winphone stuff:
http://www.gsma.com/newsroom/omtp-do...ue-audio-v1-0/
http://www.gsma.com/newsroom/wp-cont...ueaudiov10.pdf
It's particularly Apple who use a proprietary non-standard non-compatible interface for their headsets. And to a marginally lesser degree 50% of Android devices.

It basicaly boils down to Apple using a weird pinout where GROUND is on the 3rd pin from top, and the very sensible microphone input is on the base 4th pin from top where you would expect sleeve/shielding (and every metal case 3.5mm plug actually inevitably HAS sleeve/shielding on that pin. See "TRRS" == Tip Ring Ring Sleeve). Apple did this so their iPod-et-al devices could operate with standard 3-pin headphones but for headset they would need their own incompatible "peripherals" as usual with Apple. The trick simply is to get an adapter that swaps 3rd and 4th contact.
Recommended read: the "Headset differences and standard (OMTP, AHJ, and Apple)" section in http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow...Windows_Ph.php

And a footnote since neither I nor the wiki and above URL made it clear: it is totally insane to put the sensible microphone-input signal on a pin (Sleeve) that is inevitably exposed to get touched by user's hand when using a metal case plug since this will introduce all sorts of hum and (RF) interferences. And even plugs with plastic case internally have a mechanical support to crimp the complete cable into it, which is connected to sleeve of course (see photo, the longest of the 3 solder contacts of this 3-pin, 4pin are all the same, no matter what material the case) . This effectively made a convenient way for Apple to totally defeat all efforts to DIY or fix/replace a plug to connect to their devices