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It’s with great sadness that I publish this post today. According to an open letter published at Nokia Conversations today, Stephen Elop says “Nokia will adopt Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy”.
Exact details of the deal are still being ironed out but there was no mention of MeeGo or Symbian in the post. Here’s a quick video announcement of the partnership.
The full letter can be found here, but here are some of the points:
• 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 will help drive and define the future of Windows Phone. Nokia will 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 will closely collaborate on development, joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution 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 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 will make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
• Microsoft development tools will be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.
• Microsoft will continue to invest in the development of Windows Phone and cloud services so customers can do more with their phone, across their work and personal lives.
• Nokia’s content and application store will be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.
I for one, am shocked. I just dont know what to say to this. As a Nokia ethusiast, and fan of the Brand for so many years, I’m just incredibly disappointed in this decision. Sorry y’all, I just cant support Windows Phone 7. Maybe somewhere down the line, but now? I’m just really really disappointed.
What do you think?
Clinton is currently based in New Delhi, India and is executive editor for UnleashThePhones. He is responsible for all editorial decisions, and covers all forms of Mobile and mobile-related accessories.
Cj is addicted to caffeine, social media, and technology. Always up for a good conversation, you can reach him through the contact form, his website, on Google Plus 
or on Facebook or Twitter: Follow @clintonjeff
Thanks for sharing your opinion. On any queries regarding the announcement post your comments on Nokia Conversations. http://conversations.nokia.com/ Nokia Team
hmmm lets see ?nokia and microsoft give your best shot on this, i hope they come up with one phone every year only or their flagship mobile unit for 2011
fancy home screen is not u ppl wanted :D now u will get it the delay to open something will be coverd by fancy animation of 20 seconds and more enjoy :P
FROM TODAY I HATE “”" AMERICAN ”"” BUSSINESS PEOPLE EVEN MORE. INDIA,CHINA RUIN THE ECONOMY OF USA IN A BRUTAL WAY.
what a crazy guy!
the reason is that elop proves that he is black sheep,a infected virus which nokia hasnt any anti virus to deal with it. News is cming that Jormi,olli pekala chairman of nokia and former CEO(WHo was responsible for massive success of nokia in 20years) has left the company after this deal. while a celebration on the microsoft side.Steve ballmer dream of acquiring nokia is near and by the end of 2012 microsoft will get reign over nokia and elop will remain the ceo of mobile divison. FINLAND HAS OBSERVED TODAY AS A “ BLACK FRIDAY ” IN THE HISTORY OF NOKIA. Whole Europe is lambasting stephen elop 5000 people will be sack from their jobs. Result-” AMERICAN CEO ARE VERY ARROGANT.THEY CANT TOLERATE HOW A NON AMERICAN WAS ABLE TO THRIVE SUCCESS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS ”
FINALLY WHAT ARROGANT AMERICANS WANTED FOR YEARS HAS BEEN FULFIL BY IMPOSTER "STEPHEN ELOP" HE BREAK THE SPINE OF NOKIA i.e. SYMBIAN WE R ON THE VERGE OF S^4 WITH WHOLE NEW UI. END OF 150 YEARS OLD COMPANY CHAIRMAN OF NOKIA IS NOW THINKING THAT CHOOSING "ELOP" WAS THE BLUNDER.
THE ULTIMATE RESULT OF DEAL WILL BE THE ACQUISITION OF NOKIA BY MICROSOFT. CLEARLY "STEPHEN ELOP" PROVES THAT HE IS BLACK SHEEP
THIS PROVES THAT AMERICAN BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE VERY EGOTISTIC. THEY ARE NOT DIGESTING THE FACT THAT HOW NOKIA(NON AMERICAN) WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MOBILE INDUSTRY FOR YEARS.
TODAY'S INCIDENT LET ME TO RECALL THE FAMOUS THOUGHT "it takes years to build the renown but it takes just seconds to ruin that renown"
today my 15 years affection with Nokia comes to an end. today i observe "Black day" in the history of nokia. my brother work in microsoft has told me that since the day of rejecting window mobile 6 by OPK on that day steve balmer took an oath to destroy the nokia holistically and after 9years his result are now clear to us and in 2012-2013 microsoft will acquire Nokia. End of 150 golden years of company "Elop will be remember as the imposter CEO"
Everyone please observe 2 minutes silence for the passing of a once great company that is now floundering.
How am I going ot sell my N8 now?
Same here, CJ. Disappointed in Mr. Elop and Mr. Chairman Ollilla's (obvious) sellout to the Americans. I can't believe it took 5 months to come out with this. I see the benefit for M$, zilch for Nokia. This is not a strategy.. sadly this is what you get when you bring a bunch of outsiders, and that too Yanks, to reinvent the game. Sad day for Nokia and Finland.
Right step but what about Meego and Symbian ?
I concur with all of you. Dumb move Nokia. I dont think I'll ever buy another Nokia again. The problem is a lack of market research. Windows mobile sucks......... Please lets hope they rethink this or hopefully the developers pull out some really cool apps like on the android market. Another smart move would maybe try and strike an agreement with google to intergrate android market on there devices. But as it stands they've just added more gasoline to the burning platform.
You said it yourself --- "you just can't support WP7". Open up your mind, don't be a fanboy, boy! I think this is a step in the right direction for Nokia. They will be in a unique position with this blend of software, services and hardware.
do u know that s^3 was on the verge of getting a brand new UI WITH S^4. I have seen the testing videos and it just like that u r using maemo. elop proves that he is black sheep
This is a very sad day indeed - not just for Nokia and those who still wish them well, but for choice in the mobile device arena. I acquired my N8 late last year, and it's a very fine device which deserves better than to be amongst the last of its "line" - how many more S^3 handsets will be launched from now on? So anyway... hang on... what's that noise I hear? The Angry Birds pigs whooping and jeering because the player just failed a level? No... let's just say I think I can hear the US tech bloggers who helped bring this about, having an all-night party. I hope they're satisfied with this outcome, but there are plenty who are not.
Sadness, I just can't believe it.
shocked as much as you are !!....they intend to kill a new platform so soon....symbian^3 isnt even half an year old....nokia has done it several times...they made ngage service n killed it....ngage 2.0 service n dropped it....refused proper updates to flagship devices like n81,7710....and now they are all set to stab the s^3 customers who purchased n8,c6 despite of android's popularity.....
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