Nokia and Microsoft Announce Strategic Partnership
by Mithun Chandrasekhar on February 11, 2011 11:28 AM EST- Posted in
- Nokia
- MeeGo
- Microsoft
- Smartphones
- windows phone 7
- symbian
- Mobile
Today Nokia and Microsoft have announced a partnership that will collectively leverage Microsoft and Nokia's strengths and resources. Although the fruit of this long-term partnership will primarily affect Windows Phone 7 and Nokia's smartphone line-up, other areas of either companies business' will also be getting some of the good stuff.
The partnership primarily aims to leverage Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform and eco-system along with Nokia's hardware expertise and market/carrier reach around the world to build a new line-up of Nokia branded smartphones running Microsoft's mobile OS. But things aren't as cut and dry. Although the software driving these devices will be WP7, Nokia will be integrating some of its own software components into the platform. Primarily, this will be the excellent 'Maps' application, which moving forward, Microsoft will also be using in its own Bing eco-system.
Although Nokia insists that Symbian and Meego will not die, it is quite clear that Symbian will eventually be put to rest and whatever core Symbian IP Nokia has, could be absorbed into the Windows Phone codebase. Meego on the other hand will continue to live the existence as Nokia's 'expirmental platform' of choice, with a Meego device expected sometime this year. Nokia has also mentioned that it's 'Qt' framework will not be coming to WP7.
Clearly, the mobile devices market in 2011 is going to be much more interesting (and potentially beneficial) for the consumer. Apple and Google will seriously have to re-think their stratergies now that they have three very strong and able competitors in HP's excellent webOS, RIM's promising QNX and now Nokia-Microsoft's extensive partnership.
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natebigdawg - Friday, February 11, 2011 - link
Might want clarify that one...medi01 - Saturday, February 12, 2011 - link
So, former Microsoft manager makes a decision, that is good for Microsoft (great opportunity, nothing to lose) and frankly lame for Nokia (why, on planet Earth, would I pay premium to buy something associated with that ugly Balmer guy? What's the deal with jumping on Android bandwagon, if Symbian is abandoned?)There might be something missing in this picture, like Microsoft's influence on US Mobile providers, that seem to essentially boycott Nokia, but, heh..
With current megashpuxel/multicore/gigaherz marketing driven techno-cretinism, it's depressing to see one of the most capable manufacturers do stupid things...
B3an - Saturday, February 12, 2011 - link
This isn't stupid at all, it's great.Whats stupid is how you've replied to a post that has nothing to do with what you've said just so your retarded idiotic comment is at the top.
medi01 - Saturday, February 12, 2011 - link
It's great because ... you say it's great, that's convincing.(childish part ignored)
quiksilvr - Saturday, February 12, 2011 - link
Says the guy that didn't want to associate with a company because their CEO is ugly.takumsawsherman - Saturday, February 12, 2011 - link
I have a feeling that if Microsoft released anything more than a half-baked copy of what someone else already did, he wouldn't care that Ballmer lacks good looks.There are very few companies that have had successful partnerships with Microsoft when Microsoft decides to compete in the same space. SGI did a similar move to Windows NT as their OS to try to stop bleeding, and it failed miserably.
Windows "Phone" is just another "me, too" in a world filled with Microsoft "me, too" products. Nobody wants them*. So why would Nokia switch to that rather than Android? Seems a little bit suspicious that the new non-Finnish CEO who worked for MS is trying to steer them in that direction.
* Disclaimer: you might want a WP7 phone, but that doesn't count.
sdffds6546 - Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - link
It's great because ... you say it's great, that's convincing.(childish part ignored)
gnomepunk - Friday, February 11, 2011 - link
Micrisoft? Stratergic?mythun.chandra - Friday, February 11, 2011 - link
Very sorry for that!I typed it out just before running for work!
Thanks,
fic2 - Friday, February 11, 2011 - link
Apparently it is Finnish.