I ask this question because I really don't know the reason. As I know, maemo is more open than Android. E.g. we can develop C/C++ program on it instead of only Java on Android (Am I right?).
So could anyone give me the real reason? Commercial factor or pure technical factor?
Someone told me that is because maemo can be only used in Nokia device/phone, like N810 and N900. And Android can be ported to many phones, but why?
Thanks!

Personally, I just think it's because it's backed by Google.

Google to the current generation is what window was to my generation, it's all they know...Google this, Google that...so as soon as a phone was realised that was backed by Google, everyone jumped at it...

This is just my opinion, 99% of the people using it don't care about its open-ness, all they know is Android is backed by Google!

Because Google actually care (or just want increased profits).

Google is powerful and cool company

AND Nokia have been doing strange(stupid?) movements in the last years, for many people Nokia was synonym of quality, standards(chargers,batteries),..

Nokia could sell more devices to technical people or supporters of free software with a cheaper price, however N900 is too expensive and its not very popular in the streets.

Why not a cheaper maemo device?
Why they sold notebooks with windows instead of maemo/linux+QT?

Nokia have the technology, staff, etc to fight face to face with apple or android, but they are fighting with Samsung and Motorola.... (no comments)

I think their biggest problem come from the top of the company, and their bad decisions

Because Maemo 5 is on like 1 device that's still sold on the market and Android is on a ton? Also Android is a *bit* more polished? Also it's kind of a silly question.

How about this question? Can maemo be easily ported to other phones? I saw that Android could run in N900.
What blocks maemo to be ported to other devices?

It's pretty obvious nokia doesn't know where it wants to go as a company. maemo 5 is unsupported, they've announced they won't make new versions of symbian, and they're taking a gamble on meego. They are lost and instead of supporting their products to give their customers confidence to win their trust, they announce new stuff all the time. That's not the case with google.

Maemo 5 was never meant to be popular and mainstream, That was meant to be Maemo 6 but will now be MeeGo

1. A single device versus dozens.
2. Work in progress UI versus polished user interface
3. hundreds of apps versus thousands of apps
4. Open market phone versus Carrier subsidized.
5. No new devices in 18 months versus new devices every month.

Maemo / Meego has a tough road to go. I hope they succeed. I'll back them because the openness of the platform is worth the drawbacks so far.

NvyUs has hit the nail on the head so to speak.

Maemo was step 4 in a 5 step plan, or 5 in a six step plan, i can never remember which...
But in thory it was building up to harmatten and now MeeGo... Since the structure of nokia has changed, no-one knows how this may affect the path. But it doesnt change the fact Maemo was a specialist project and more likely a learning curve.