The first time we thought that Nokia is going to adopt Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 platform, happened when Stephen Elop took over the reigns of the Finnish-based company. Things heated up earlier this week and Elop sent a message to all Nokia employees saying that the company is sitting on a burning platform and that he must make some desperate decisions. Now everything is official!
Nokia and Microsoft have announced that the former will make the latter’s Windows Phone 7 the primary smartphone platform. Nokia says that it is still the leading the smartphone market and that it intends to “define the future of Windows Phone.”
The press release states that Nokia will try to take Windows Phone 7 to a number of new markets and to a wider range of users (low-end and high-end users).
Nokia added that it will work on Windows Phone hardware design and language support, while Microsoft will power Nokia’s search services through Bing and AdCenter. The good thing is that Nokia Maps will take over Bing Maps, though the app will come with being and AdCenter integration for local-based search and local-based offers.
Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace will grow thanks to Nokia’s connections with operators worldwide. This means that users will be able to purchase Windows Phone 7 apps for Nokia smartphones using operator billing rather than credit card purchase.
Both Microsoft and Nokia will co-operate on marketing strategies, and the Redmond company will provide exclusive tools to Nokia in order to create special WP7 apps for its smartphones. Steve Ballmer said that it his company will invest more in cloud services in order to improve and expand user services.
Nokia’s dying Ovi Store will be replaced with Windows Marketplace’s coolness, and the happier person seemed Steve Ballmer although Nokia was going down, while Windows Phone 7 was just beginning to ride.
Ballmer is very confident that this partnership will disrupt other mobile ecosystems, that challenges will be overcome, and that speed is needed on the road to success.
“We will be swift,” added Ballmer. This makes me think that the first Nokia Windows Phone 7 device will be released within a 6-month timeline.
I appreciate Nokia hardware, and the Windows Phone 7 software. Currently I own a HTC 7 Mozart and if a Nokia WP7 device is coming this year, then I might switch very soon.
I am very confident, too, that Windows Phone 7 sales will increase when the first Nokia WP7 phones will be released and judging by the huge number of die-hard Nokia fans… Well, let’s just say that the smartphone wars is about to witness another turning point.
