Official: Nokia to adopt Windows Phone as smartphone operating system [live video]

By on Feb 11, 2011 at 5:09 AM
Breaking February 11, 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official. In a press release today, Microsoft and Nokia announced “plans to form a broad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem.” This partnership will see Nokia, the world’s largest phone manufacturer, adopt Windows Phone as its “principle smartphone strategy” and the two companies will collaborate on marketing, search, maps, and development.

“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” said Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”

This certainly does bolster the global position of Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system. The two companies are hosting a live press conference at 5AM ET. The live video feed and aforementioned press release are waiting for you after the break.

Nokia and Microsoft Announce Plans for a Broad Strategic Partnership to Build a New Global Mobile Ecosystem
Companies plan to combine assets and develop innovative mobile products on an unprecedented scale.

LONDON – Feb. 11, 2011 – Nokia and Microsoft today announced plans to form a broad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem.

Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.

  • Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.
  • Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.
  • Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
  • Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.
  • Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience
  • Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
  • Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.
  • Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.

“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”

“I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale.The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise in hardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.”

Please visit http://www.nokia.com/press for press materials.

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  • Anonymous

    Two turkeys don’t make an eagle.

  • franswaza

    losers unite, go apple and google!

  • Anonymous

    Ballmer actually used the word “magical” lol, good news thou

  • Anonymous

    Contrary to most here, I think this is a great partnership. The solid hardware of Nokia and the innovative WP7 OS combined. It gives MS a very solid partner, especially in the worldwide market, and should provide some very compelling devices. If the N8 had WP7, I’d be all over that. This also makes it very clear to the developer community that WP7 isn’t just a “hobby” and is here to stay.

    • Chut Pata

      “MS Innovation” is an oxymoron. MS is a follower. They wait for people to go for something, see if there is big profit in it, acquire someone in the technolocy, use their influence to sign deals with corporations, and then call themselves innovative company. What a bull crap.

      • Anonymous

        How does WP7 follow anything right now? Love it or hate it, it is a totally different experience than what is offered by other competing platforms. Innovation doesn’t win the day, hence why they would want to partner with a company like Nokia, but the innovation is there in WP7. It is something new, and dare I say it, magical. If WP7 on a Nokia device comes to Sprint in the near future, I would put that combo very high as a replacement to my EVO.

      • Bill

        yeah Microsoft is a follower with near
        90% OS market share in the pc market
        Most or near most of the game console market
        60% + in the web browser market
        80% Offices apps (Microsoft Office)
        Yeah they’re doing a lot of following…

  • Booboolala2000

    Two turkeys don’t make an eagle… that shit is funny.

    • Chut Pata

      Nokia is no turkey, so let me say this “Turkey+Eagle=Vulture”. Good Hardware + Shitty Software = Piece of Crap

  • Anonymous

    I think that given Nokias strength in the Hardware field this may make for some very cool phones geared towards mobile xbox gaming. My N900 may still have some life left in it.

  • Nightfox111

    Why the hell would they do this?… Windows mobile 7? with 2000 applications in the app store? They should have gone with MeeGO and just VM Android Apps on there platform, like the rummer with Playbook. Microsoft can’t even release a fixpack for there mobile7 to give it cut and paste!

    Loser Nokia picks Loser Microsoft. This is great news for RIM, with QNX it will make for a 3 way race with Google and Apple.

    • Anonymous

      I know, LOL. It’s like they waited an entire year to release copy and paste. Oh, wait…

  • Poppinpete28

    ….I don’t know what all this negative hype is about. Nokia never said they were going to abandon their proprietary OS or that they were going to ignore Android as another option…

  • serpentor

    Didn’t see this coming at all. *sarcasm*

    I think this decision was made when they hired a former MS guy for their CEO.

  • Mwrg

    I seem to remember Palm trying this as well?

    • serpentor

      Trying what?

  • http://elmundocomoloveo.wordpress.com/ BoogieMAN2K

    But they are saying they will use Windows Phone as their plataform of choice so its mean Goodbye Meego, Goobye Symbiam. And besides they will have a hell of a work to do to make WP7 works like it should before release their first mobile.

  • Huh?

    I don’t get it… Who’s the third horse in the race?

  • Quentinthegreat

    I love Android but Windows Phone 7 is extremely polished half the people that talk shit have not tried try the face book or flicker app on both phones side by side w7p is more polished cut and paste is not a deal breaker listen out of the 10 people I know that own Android phones not one of them use copy and paste but me and they don’t care to use it only us geeks care about it

  • Mistath365

    I rarely everwrite on here but we have some serious Android fanboys on here. First off dont hate on Microsoft for failing on Windows for PCs. But if they are determined like they were with the console market then they should be good. Xbox was supposed to have no chance against sony and nintendo but now they hold a huge share in that industry. Android is ok but the os is blah, Ios will always be good but its showing its age. Windows phone 7 was microsofts first crack at the new os no one is going to make a flying jump out the gate. I have high hopes on Blackberry Qnx for phones .

  • Anonymous

    I find this insulting, for Nokia to try to spin this off as “exciting news”!… I bought a Nokia for its Symbian OS, if I wanted Windows Phone OS I would of bought something from HTC or Samsung! Nokia and Symbian was a choice for us, now we are left with no choice! Symbian isn’t broken, it’s the upper management that failed to plan and execute that’s broken. Meego was also miss-managed, it was meant to compliment Symbian in the tablet/netbook segment; thus creating a complete eco-system with the Qt framework as the link to manage both platforms growth. Mr. Elop was suppose to shake up management and expedite this plan, not kill it off and give up Nokia’s assetts to microsoft!

  • http://twitter.com/TimHainesPhotog Tim Haines

    What a great idea. We all remember how well this kind of partnership worked out for Palm…

  • Austiniter

    Bye Bye NOKIA…. i dumped my stock months ago….hope you dumped yours!

  • Idwasstolen

    I’ve always liked Nokia products. I even liked Symbian even though it was high maintenance.
    Windows mobile didn’t cut it and maybe WP7 will redeem MS in the mobile world.
    I don’t know.
    I feel Nokia shouldn’t put all of it’s money on one horse. It may break a leg. Nokia should take a new approach to mobile devices; choice of OS.
    If their devices can run WP7, should have no problem running Android.

    ” Now you can get the new Nokia Flipflop X with your choice of Windows Phone 7 or Android 2.x…..”

    Hell, can you imagine nokia touchscreen phones even running blackberry as well?

  • Dextosenergy

    Makes you wounder how much this deal cost MS…I relay thought Nokia might go Android…potentaly they see android as a flash in the pan…Europenas are very conservative and prefer longevity vs. trendy and like or dislike MS they are world wide and have the tech abilities to back up such a global reach with Nokia.

  • HD Boy

    The photo illustrating this story is a perfect example of how the new “NoSoft” cartel marketing will doom this platform/software marriage. Nokia and Microsoft get their story out with a 1950′s-style, grip-and-grin handshake photo? Really?

  • Anonymous

    “…dont hate on Microsoft for failing on Windows for PCs. But if they are determined like they were with the console market then they should be good…Windows phone 7 was microsofts first crack at the new os no one is going to make a flying jump out the gate…”

    Well, no one except for Apple.

    And since a monumental shift in the mobile phone industry already occurred — FOUR YEARS AGO — it’s probably a little too late for this partnership to matter. For one thing, it probably will be another two years before we actually see “NoSoft” phones delivered to consumers. By then, Redmond and Espoo will be SIX YEARS behind Cupertino and Palo Alto.

  • http://twitter.com/Syk0Matik420 Beefy McBigDick

    do u remember when Nokia actually possessed some sort of innovation? Now, they are just sad. Always playing catch up. And they picked the SHITTIEST operating system in the mobile world. Windows sucks on mobile. always has. always will. In fact, if Microsoft wasnt richer than God, I am convinced they wouldve nixed their mobile platform division after windows mobile 5. good luck Nokia. U need it

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