Nokia will adopt Windows Mobile as its main smartphone platform in a wide-ranging agreement with Microsoft. Today two companies announced plans for a broad strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem. Nokia will adopt Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader. Nokia and Microsoft will closely collaborate on development, joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
What Microsoft has on mobile sector now is Windows Phone 7. It is the successor to Windows Mobile platform. Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7 on February 15, 2010, at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona. Windows Phone 7 is a new platform, and older Windows Mobile applications do not run on it. Windows Phone 7 features a version of Internet Explorer Mobile with a rendering engine that is “halfway between IE7 and IE8“. Silverlight (.NET code with XAM) is the application development platform for Windows Phone 7, but also Microsoft XNA is supported. Development tools are Visual Studio ja Expression Blend. Windows Phone 7 so far hasn’t been a major hit with the application-development community.
I would have liked to see something released on Meego instead of this, but I must admit that tt was somewhat expected that this could happen when you you get a new CEO from Microsoft. Now it seems that the stock price has fallen considerably this day: European stock markets turned lower Friday, with mobile-phone giant Nokia Corp. shedding nearly 10% after it agreed to a partnership with Microsoft. Let’s see what happens in the near future and how Microsoft stock reacts to this.
It takes quite a bit of time until the first phones using this new OS will come to market and how markets react to this. Vic Gundotra from Google already commented “Two turkeys do not make an Eagle” before the announcement. I think this was a better deal for Microsoft than for Nokia. Let’s see how well those turkeys are baked on the next Thanksgiving Day.
The new Nokia strategy: MeeGo will open-source mobile operating system project for future devices and Nokia’s Symbian will continue working on behalf of the platform. Symbian and MeeGo not dead, still shipping this year says another source.
But what will be the future of Qt? Just few months ago Nokia announced focus on Qt framework and support for HTML5. Qt applications do not work on Windows Phone and press release does not mention anything on Qt applications on Windows phones.
Letter to Developers about Today’s News tells that Qt will continue to be the development framework for Symbian and Nokia will use Symbian for further devices, and also on first MeeGo-related open source device (planned to ship later this year). There seems to be no Qt for Windows Phone development: In other words, Qt will not be adapted for Windows Phone 7 APIs. Microsoft would provide tools for application developers for Nokia Windows Phones. Developers already think this is a Microsoft sabotage on developers.
Was this Microsoft deal a good move or not is hard to say yet. I fear the worst. Some time ago Nokia’s outgoing head of smartphones Anssi Vanjoki Using Android like ‘peeing in your pants for warmth in winter’: Temporary relief is followed by an even worse predicament. Would using Windows Phone be like getting something else on your pants for temporary warmth?
This is a very dark day for Finnish software industry: Nokia to cut thousands of jobs in Finland. Pretty many developers in Finland will be pretty pissed off on all this…
Nokia Lumia Sales Seen Topping 1 Million Since Debut in Respite for Stock
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-22/nokia-lumia-sales-seen-topping-1-million-in-respite-for-stock.html
Nokia Oyj (NOK1V)’s first phones running Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) software may have sold enough units last year to help rebuild investor confidence in the Finnish company, which lost $19 billion in market value in 2011.
“The numbers look promising,” said Espen Furnes, an Oslo- based fund manager at Storebrand Asset Management
Nokia already nearly 50% of Second Generation Windows Phone market share
http://wmpoweruser.com/nokia-already-nearly-50-of-second-generation-windows-phone-market-share/
Overall however I think the biggest news is how rapidly Nokia has been able to dominate the Windows Phone 7 market, and I suspect if market acceptance for Windows Phone 7 increases it may be because it becomes strongly associated with Nokia, which may mean this percentage could easily increase to 60-70% or more, and which could see other OEMs exit due to this.
Nokia sells 1.5 billion Series 40 mobile phones
Basic OS is still going strong
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2141200/nokia-sells-billion-series-mobile-phones
The first phone to run the Basic Series 40 operating system was the Nokia 7110 way back in 1999. The firm has stuck with it ever since, despite going down the route of Symbian, Meego and Windows Phone.
Nokia has sold an estimated 1.3 million units of its most recent handset, the Windows Phone 7.5 Lumia 800, since last November.
http://translate.google.fi/translate?hl=fi&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tietoviikko.fi%2Ferroristi%2Ftassa%2Blumiasodan%2Bstatistiikkaa%2Fa755155
Nokia sold more in 2010, one hundred million smartphones. Sales increased 47 percent since 2009.
2011 they sold about 77 million smartphones (Symbian)
Recent figures are Morgan Stanley &. Forecast for this year is that Windows Mobile devices sold 37 million copies around.
What a story.
Charlie Kindel said in his blog the reasons why Windows Mobile doing so baddly on market.
For this reason, Windows Mobile is not doing – and how Nokia change that
Windows Phone is Superior; Why Hasn’t it Taken Off?
http://ceklog.kindel.com/2011/12/26/windows-phone-is-superior-why-hasnt-it-taken-off/
WP raises its middle finger at both the device manufacturers and mobile carriers. WP says “here’s the hardware spec you shalt use” (to the device manufacturers). And it says “Here’s how it will be updated” (to the carriers).
Thus both of those sides of the market are reluctant. Especially the carriers, but also the device manufacturers.
Spending marketing dollars on advertising Android devices is and easy decision for the carriers. Pushing RSPs to push Android is easy.
Spending marketing dollars advertising WP7 requires Microsoft to push hard on the carriers. Getting RSPs to push WP7 requires Microsoft to push hard on the carriers to incent their RSPs correctly.
I struggle to understand why people don’t see the obvious: people don’t like Microsoft. Simple.
They have been forced to use their products because of their monopoly and people don’t like servitude.
Microsoft seems to believe they are loved because of their billion users. It’s like the prison cook thinking he’s a wonderful chef because everyone eats his food.
Microsoft as a brand is associated with computers. Computers are seen as complex, unreliable tools that require lots of expensive add-ons (like software) to be useful. That is why “Windows” is a shitty brand for anything other than computers.
Microsoft has had many phone products now and they have all failed, even the ones that provided a great deal of customization flexibility for carriers and device makers.
“Windows” as a brand is simply a poor fit for consumers. It just does not work well (or “good” as you say). The people that decided that the XBox should not be called “Windows Game Console 7″ knew what they were doing.
I cannot tell you *ONE* person that *LIKES* Windows..it’s all they know. .
General public consumers want to know is “Does this new device work good” and “can I get it on sale price?”
Source: Comment at http://ceklog.kindel.com/2011/12/26/windows-phone-is-superior-why-hasnt-it-taken-off/
Nokia Q4: Scrambling For A Grip, But Still Falling; 1M+ Lumia Phones Sold
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-nokia-q4-earnings-scrambling-for-grip-still-falling-1m-lumia-phones-sol/index.html.gz/
Nokia’s earnings came out just moments ago, and the numbers are not pretty. The handset maker confirmed analyst estimates it has sold over a million Lumia Windows Phone handsets – but that didn’t stop a horrible 31 percent slide in its total smartphone sales compared with last year.
Feature phones actually held up in their unit sales: 93.9 million for the quarter, down by only one percent.
Smartphones, however, did significantly worse: 19.6 million devices, down 31 percent.
Device revenues overall were €6 billion, down 29 percent. Again, the biggest weakness was in smartphones, which had sales of €2.74 billion, down 38 percent.
Nokia: Microsoft paid us $250m in Q4 to use Windows Phone
http://www.slashgear.com/nokia-microsoft-paid-us-250m-in-q4-to-use-windows-phone-26210827/
Microsoft paid Nokia $250m in Q4 2011 for adopting Windows Phone, the Finnish company’s financial results today have revealed, the first of a “platform support payments” scheme expected to eventually account for billions of dollars.
“Our broad strategic agreement with Microsoft includes platform support payments from Microsoft to us as well as software royalty payments from us to Microsoft” Nokia said in its results today. ”We have a competitive software royalty structure, which includes minimum software royalty commitments.”
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my cousin were just preparing to do some research on this. We grabbed a book from our area library but I believe I learned more from this post. I’m quite glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there…
Nokia chairman warns of slow progress for ‘a significant part’ of 2012
http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/2/2765106/nokia-windows-transition-slow-progress-2012
Nokia’s shift to Windows Phone kicked off with a quarter in which the company lost $1.2 billion and saw smartphone sales decline by 31 percent, and outgoing chairman Jorma Ollila is warning that it’s going to take a while to see much improvement. In comments made to Finnish national broadcaster YLE, Ollila expects to see the effects of the transition “for a significant part of the year”,
Five ways Microsoft can rescue Windows Phone
A critical success, a market dud. Here’s what Redmond should do next
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/02/windows_phone_get_going/
Windows Phone might be the most impressive bit of software Microsoft has produced – but it isn’t setting the world on fire. The iPhone and Android go from strength to strength
Reviewers like WinPho a lot – it’s clean, fast, functional and forward-looking. The social media integration is very clever. Operators have a soft spot for Nokia and WP7 too, because – if for no other reason – they dislike and distrust Google and Apple even more. So what’s the problem?
1. It’s a device business, stupid
The smartphone market is one driven by a desire for unique and distinctive devices
Microsoft needs to loosen its reference platform to encourage some serious design innovation.
2. Growing up
It simply takes time, money and careful product management. WP7 was very much a working technology demonstration
3. We need to talk about the UI
It is a UI designed to be glanced at, and it fulfils that very well.
But it makes poor use of the space available.
4. Give it all away?
“You can’t compete with free” is a cliche in the content world. And it’s proved one of the most misleading.
5. Telcos hate smartphones. They don’t have to hate yours
The mobile network operators don’t want to be dumb bit-pipes – which is all they will be in Apple and Google’s future.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Windows Phone 8 Preview
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-phone-8-preview-142154
I can now publicly discuss Windows Phone 8 for the first time.
Windows Phone 8, codenamed Apollo, will be based on the Windows 8 kernel and not on Windows CE as are current versions. This will not impact app compatibility: Microsoft expects to have over 100,000 Windows Phone 7.5-compatible apps available by the time WP8 launches, and they will all work fine on this new OS.
Windows Phone 8, as its name suggests, will also be tied closely to the desktop version of Windows 8 in other ways. They’ll be launched closely to each other, and will share integrated ecosystems, thanks to the shared underlying code, components, and user experiences. Windows Phone 8 is part of the “Windows Reimagined” campaign that Microsoft announced for Windows 8. This makes sense as they’re companion products in every sense of the word.
Exclusive: Windows Phone 8 Detailed
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/exclusive-windows-phone-8-detailed
Windows Phone 8 won’t just share a UI with the next-generation desktop and tablet OS, apparently: it will use many of the same components as Windows 8, allowing developers to “reuse — by far — most of their code” when porting an app from desktop to phone, according to Belfiore. He specifically mentions the kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support as areas of heavy overlap.
Windows Phone 8 will reportedly scrap integration with the desktop Zune client in favor of a syncing relationship with a dedicated companion application.
Windows Phone 8 ‘Apollo’ to bring NFC, Skype integration and easier porting of apps
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2012/02/02/windows-phone-8-apollo-to-bring-nfc-skype-integration-and-easier-porting-of-apps/
A trove of details about Microsoft’s next version of Windows Phone, code-named Apollo, have been revealed thanks to an internal video for partners uncovered by Pocketnow. The specifics of what is now called Windows Phone 8 are extensive and include deep integration with Skype and Windows 8.
There was also mention of Near Field Communication support for mobile payments and removable microSD storage.
One detail that excites us quite a bit is that Microsoft will be taking application interoperability much more seriously, allowing data and features to be shared between applications. Attention is also being given to making it easy to port code from other platforms like iOS and Android. Support for native code will make that possible.
iPhone 4S vs Nokia Lumia – a close call
http://www.mediacity.fi/index.php?p=1
This test is a comprehensive test between the iPhone 4S and the Nokia Lumia 800; not a battery life test, not a clocking speed test, but a User Experience test to answer one question – which is the better phone to use?
Test results can be found at http://lab.mediacity.fi/?page_id=959
Lumia kirii iPhonen rinnalle
http://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/lumia+kirii+iphonen+rinnalle/a769341
Windows Phone 8 details leak, HTC Sense is too weak
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57372257-85/dialed-in-209-windows-phone-8-details-leak-htc-sense-is-too-weak/
a lively discussion about the new details surrounding Windows Phone 8. So far, there’s word of a multicore processor in the works, as well as integration with the Windows 8 desktop and tablet OS
Nokia axes 4,000, shifts smartphone manufacturing East
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/08/nokia_factories/
Having reviewed operations at its manufacturing facilities in Hungary, Mexico and Finland, Nokia has decided to halt its assembly lines there. Smartphones will still be customised at the three sites, but the gear itself will be built in Asia. The manufacturing work will be switched to existing Nokia facilities in Asia.
The change will affect 4,000 jobs between the factories
Nokia claims the move will enable faster innovation and better time to market, though low pay and an often-more-relaxed attitude to employment law are obviously attractive.
Nokia is making the usual noises about “supporting our personnel and their local communities during the transition”.
Nokia Salo employees to learn their fate
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2012/02/nokia_salo_employees_to_learn_their_fate_3239923.html
http://www.talouselama.fi/nokialandia/nokia+vahvistaa+salon+tehtaalta+lahtee+1000/a772749
Nokia said Tuesday the large changes in mobile phone plant in Salo operations. Production was shut down except for the two other Salo factory in Hungary as well as in Mexico and moved to Nokia’s Asian factories.
The company said that from Salo to be reduced by as much as 1,000 employees.
(around two thirds of the people on that factory!)
http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/blogit/veijo_ojanpera/mita_tarkoittaa_made_in_finland
Nokia’s mobile phone increases the number one name in the past was based on his own advanced production machinery and extent filed logistics.
Mobile phone part of Nokia had seven giant factories and three of them located in Europe.
The new Nokia looks very much different.
Compal manufactures Lumia phones in Taiwan.
The basic phones in manufactured in China, India, Korea and Manaus, Brazil.
Made in Finland, Nokia is now a part of history.
Nokia Boss: Phones are still “Designed in Finland”
http://www.digitoday.fi/vimpaimet/2012/02/08/nokia-pomo-puhelimet-ovat-designed-in-finland/201222719/66
Nokia kertoo tehdastoimintojensa muutoksesta
http://aani.nokia.fi/2012/02/08/nokia-kertoo-tehdastoimintojensa-muutoksesta/
Lumia 800: Nokia’s Comeback?
http://www.mondaynote.com/2012/02/12/lumia-800-nokia%E2%80%99s-comeback/
With the regard to the former, by 2010 Nokia is already past the point of controlling their destiny; sales are “gaining vertical speed”…in the wrong direction.
A year ago exactly, Nokia’s new CEO writes his infamous Burning Platforms memo. In it, Elop makes three crucial statements:
1. The smartphone war isn’t one of platforms any more, it is a war of ecosystems.
2. Our current system software won’t win.
3. To win the war, we’re joining the Windows Phone ecosystem via a special alliance with Microsoft.
The first point is beyond dispute. Two successful ecosystems, Google’s for Android and Apple’s for the iPhone, have settled that score.
To outsiders, Elop’s second statement is merely a frank assessment of Nokia’s failure to play in the same software league as its Californian competitors. A few insiders and fans take offense but…numbers are numbers.
Things take a turn for the worse with the jump to Windows Phone. In the abstract, the decision is defensible, but by announcing the switch ten to twelve months ahead of actual shipments, Elop has effectively osborned his current product.
This is a well-made, elegantly designed, and capable phone. But let’s return to The Question: Is this the Killer Phone? Will the Lumia 800 and its siblings put Nokia and Microsoft back in contention? My answer is, regretfully, No.
Back to reality: Without a clearly superior product and a dominant ecosystem, Microsoft and Nokia are now forced to shell out big marketing dollars against richer adversaries. This isn’t going to be pretty: Microsoft can ill afford to be a bit player in the smartphone revolution and Nokia can’t keep bleeding money, squeezed between the new giants and the emerging Asian providers of entry-level devices.
Nokia leaks six handsets before MWC
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2152272/nokia-leaks-handsets-mwc
Nice post, thanks for that. Might I consult the webmaster where he or she purchased his design? Or does it appear normal at this web log? Keep on posting and thanks yet again for your time and efforts.
This a a custom made design. Some parts of design made in-house work and some by an outside web designer..
http://www.digitoday.fi/mobiili/2012/02/17/meltemi-hanke-lipsahti-elopilta/201223475/66?rss=6
Meltemi, the project slipped from Elop
Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop confirms video Meltemi-development project, which Nokia is not acknowledged publicly.
Meltemi project, wrote the first newspaper The Wall Street Journal. According to the newspaper Meltemi is a low-cost phones for the operating system, which replaces the current S40 operating system.
Based on the article Meltemi is based on Linux.
Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qxc4Iz1TY94
(Meltemi is mentioned just after 1.40 minutes in video…)