Nokia to adopt Windows Phone 7 OS -- It's official!

The rumors have been swirling for days but this morning it was official appear past both companies that Nokia will exist adopting Windows Phone 7. In a joint open up letter, both companies spelled out what the partnership ways--let information technology be articulate information technology's as large as it is deep--this is not but Nokia using Bing simply a whole agreement in a virtual merger on smartphone strategy:

The core of the decision is for Nokia to use Windows Phone every bit its principal smartphone Bone, with MeeGo going to the back-burner (simply living on). The OVI store volition merge with Microsoft's Marketplace, Bing will be on all Nokia services and Nokia wil provide mapping information for Bing.

The combination of Nokia, who's the largest jail cell phone maker (by book) and Microsoft should create quite the juggernaut and gives Windows Phone the gravitas information technology needs to exist taken more seriously (by consumers, carriers and the market). Indeed, this changes everything today. Will information technology pay off? Who knows, merely we're happier with this decision than without it.

Why not Android? According to Nokia CEO Elop:

We explored the opportunity with the Google ecosystem. Nosotros would have had difficulty differentiating within that ecosystem, and and then Microsoft represented the best opportunity to build and atomic number 82 and fight through with a new ecosystem.

Have they started collaborating on a device even so? From Ballmer:

We're already working together to create the offset Nokia Windows phones and you'll hear more from united states in all of those areas in the adjacent weeks and months.

When? "We'll be shipping in volume in 2022", varying toll points -Elop (via AllThingsD)

(Quote via via ElectricPig; part two)

Later the intermission, see the full official strategy between the two companies equally outlined in their "open letter" and video...

Open Letter from CEO Stephen Elop, Nokia and CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft

GLOBAL – Today in London, our two companies announced plans for a wide strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem. The partnership increases our scale, which will result in pregnant benefits for consumers, developers, mobile operators and businesses around the earth. We both are incredibly excited virtually the journey we are on together.

While the specific details of the deal are being worked out, hither'southward a quick summary of what we are working towards:

Full list of the understanding between Nokia and Microsoft:

Nokia will adopt Windows Phone equally its primary smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such every bit imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.
Nokia will aid drive and define the future of Windows Phone. Nokia will contribute its expertise on hardware design, language back up, and aid bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, marketplace segments and geographies.
Nokia and Microsoft will closely collaborate on evolution, articulation marketing initiatives and a shared evolution roadmap to align on the time to come development of mobile products.
Bing will power Nokia's search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing's next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter will provide search advertising services on Nokia's line of devices and services.
Nokia Maps will be a core part of Microsoft's mapping services. For instance, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft'south Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising feel.
Nokia's extensive operator billing agreements will make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
Microsoft evolution tools will be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, assuasive developers to easily leverage the ecosystem's global achieve.
Microsoft will continue to invest in the development of Windows Phone and cloud services so customers can do more with their phone, across their piece of work and personal lives.
Nokia's content and application store will be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more than compelling consumer feel.

Nosotros each bring incredible assets to the table. Nokia's history of innovation in the hardware infinite, global hardware scale, strong history of intellectual property cosmos and navigation assets are 2nd to none. Microsoft is a leader in software and services; the company'southward incredible expertise in platform creation forms the opportunity for its billions of customers and millions of partners to get more out of their devices.

Together, we take some of the globe's most admired brands, including Windows, Office, Bing, Xbox Live, NAVTEQ and Nokia. We besides have a shared understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a mobile ecosystem, which includes the entire feel from the device to the software to the applications, services and the marketplace.

Today, the battle is moving from one of mobile devices to one of mobile ecosystems, and our strengths here are complementary. Ecosystems thrive when they reach calibration, when they are fueled by energy and innovation and when they provide benefits and value to each person or company who participates. This is what we are creating; this is our vision; this is the work nosotros are driving from this day forward.

There are other mobile ecosystems. We volition disrupt them.

There will be challenges. We will overcome them.

Success requires speed. We will be swift.

Together, nosotros see the opportunity, and we take the volition, the resources and the drive to succeed.

via ElectricPig; part 2

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