Nokia Corp. and Microsoft Corp. have signed a “definitive agreement” to partner and build devices running Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system, after first announcing the move on Feb. 11, just before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
In a YouTube video commenting on the signing of the partnership agreement Waldemar Sakalus, VP of Nokia’s device experiences said the firm was “on time, on schedule, to bring those devices in volume by 2012, but there is a tremendous pressure to bring them this year.”
Meanwhile, Matt Bencke Microsoft’s manager of developer and marketplace experience, said consumers could look forward to a “really good user experience based on us integrating our core competencies.”
Those core competencies include marrying stellar Nokia hardware with Microsoft’s well-respected software and services, including Xbox live, for a “seamless set of user experiences.” Bencke also tipped his hat to “fantastic Nokia mapping experiences,” which he said would add to users’ experiences.
Attempting to win the developers back onside after much recent grumbling from the community, Sakalus announced that all Symbian developers would be getting free registration for the next few years to the Windows developer program. In addition, Bencke added that Microsoft would make it easy for current Nokia developers to come and submit their applications and learn the tools they need to use for Windows 7 development.
That said, Sakalus noted that Symbian was not something Nokia was abandoning completely just yet as there were still 150 million Symbian phones shipping.
The two also spoke of the deal as a “special long term alliance,” and emphasized that what was being signed was “really more than a contract, it’s a plan.”
“We’re two large ambitious companies,” Bencke said.
“This partnership goes well beyond mobile,” Sakalus added, noting that Nokia’s mapping software will certainly be one of the applications which will go a long way toward changing things on both mobile and web.
