Elop told the Finland-based newspaper Kaleva that Microsoft has "made a clear decision with Nokia" as a key partner for smartphones.
Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund last week said that he has learned that Pegatron, the contract electronics manufacturer that is building the new Microsoft Surface tablets, is also working on a prototype phone.
In an interview earlier this week in Information Week, Microsoft's Windows Phone marketing manager Greg Sullivan also denied speculation that it is planning to manufacture a smartphone.
NOK this morning is up 4 cents, at $2.20.