Nokia’s volte face on the eve of Mobile World Congress sparked an incredible amount of debate about the creation of a “third ecosystem” to rival those of Apple and Google. Indeed ecosystems, with the various participants including device vendors, platform companies, app developers and service providers, were something of a hot topic, as the various industry protagonists attempted to position themselves as the one to back.

What is perhaps interesting to note is that Nokia and Microsoft together and RIM alone spent some time courting operators, indicating that they could be “better” partners than the new boys.

Certainly, based on previous reports, many operators would seem to back the idea of an alternative to the “big two.” In both cases, the new entrants have been able to create deep links with customers through the strength of their apps, content, devices and services propositions, undermining the strength of the links between operators and their subscribers. This goes back to the age-old battle over “ownership of the customer,” which, ironically, Nokia was one of the first to challenge, when it began sales of ringtones and wallpaper for its devices.

Apple and Google have also been able to benefit from the big growth areas in mobile, without the need to do any of the laborious business that operators are burdened with. Look at any of the growth areas, and they are there: apps, mobile advertising, and smartphones. But when it comes to building networks, serving customers and meeting rising demand for mobile data services, the over-the-top players have the advantage of not having to worry about the heavy capital expenditure.

Nokia, Microsoft and RIM all have significant history of working to tailor devices for operators. It is easy to forget that Microsoft’s first smartphone was an own-brand device for an operator (Orange’s SPV, manufactured by HTC), and that Nokia has not been able to achieve its size and reach without working closely with its partners. RIM also has proved its credentials by allowing operators to monetise mobile data services while maintaining a focus on efficiency, against a backdrop of concern about the economics of spiralling data use.

But perhaps the bigger question is how these companies will work together in the mobile services ecosystem, when the horse may have already bolted. What customers really want is seamless access to the same content and services wherever they go, which not only puts Google in a strong position, but also means that Facebook and Twitter’s influence in the market should not be underestimated – especially if they can find a way to successfully monetise their services. And in the app market, Apple and Google have the momentum, although Microsoft and WP7 is putting up a strong show here.

Perhaps the best operators can hope for in the new world is to “divide and rule,” in order to limit the influence of any single player. In which case, a third ecosystem, and a fourth and a fifth, are definitely necessary.