Microsoft and Nokia in talks over Windows Mobile

We got a preemptive taste of what something like this might feel like with that banged up impostor-phone, the "Nokia" N94i -- but now things are getting real... ish. According to Microsoft's mobile communications business international marketing director (phew) John Starkweather, Redmond is in talks with the folks from Finland about getting Windows Mobile onto Nokia handsets. "They obviously have significant investments in Symbian but there are a lot of places where we have significant synergies and we would love to see the day where those synergies would extend completely with Windows Mobile," said Starkweather, though he couldn't say when or if any agreement will be met. "We work closely with Nokia and we would love to have them go all the way," Starkweather said. "It's something we talk about all the time." Hold up John, we think before you go all the way, Nokia's gonna want a ring on that finger... do we hear wedding bells?

[Via IntoMobile]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 2:02PM]

That picture made me choke on my coffee

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 2:20PM]

Heh me too,

As for the quote, I am always weary of someone who uses the word "synergies".
It usually means the speaker is full of utter nonsense and/or stalling for time.

[Omagus Posted Feb 7th 2008 2:25PM]

Yeah, quite surreal. I also think that it's funny that there a Windows screen...and a Symbian menu button.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 3:12PM]

Not gonna happen.

[teradome Posted Feb 7th 2008 5:53PM]

Agreed. There's no way this would happen after the Trolltech purchase.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 3:17PM]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I hate Windows MOBILE. NOKIA DoN't DO IT

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 3:38PM]

I spoke with John Starkweather about this and he says this report goes farther than what he actually said. The article makes it sound like Nokia is close to signing a deal to license Windows Mobile, which isn't the case.

The companies are constantly in talks on a veriety of issues, like Nokia's license of Exchange ActiveSync. That doesn't mean Nokia's about to make a huge additional step.

He summed it up best by saying "We (Microsoft and Nokia) are NOT talking "all the time" about Nokia licensing Windows Mobile."

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 10:04PM]

This WILL happen!
it makes so much sense, the best handset maker and the best OS.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2008 6:04PM]

Best OS? If WinMO is the best, why are they releasing version 6.1, and work for 7.0? WinMO is quite useless. And languages? I'm hungarian, and there is no hungarian language in WinMO 6.0 (for Smartphone)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 5:42PM]

Yes, I want choices and not be forced to use a single OS.
At least let me choose my OS.
I've used Symbian but wouldn't want to go back to it again.
That's the reason I don't buy Nokia anymore. Their phone OS.
Symbian is a pain to program, to customize, to create theme and to install apps.
Langauage choices are limited too.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 8:54PM]

Which version of S60 are you talking about? Windows Mobile doesn't even let you change the look of the OS except the wallpaper without any additional software. Talking about set up... I dare to challenge you to a set up procedure. We'll take ANY Windows Mobile phone (Dash etc) vs S60 phone and then I'd like to see who would come out as a winner. WinMO is a crap OS. Slow, COMPLICATED with VERY FEW things that I'd personaly like to see in Symbian. Now let's talk about the language....how many language packs (Native) are there for WinMO? I'm Polish and every time I read about Windows Mobile on handsets available in Poland, there's a mention that the OS language customization was done by so and so company..meaning WinMO comes in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese (and I believe Russian but not sure on this one). Everything else are add ons by a third party companies that have to tweak the OS. Symbian - hmmm... there's practically a version for EVERY Country..whether it's Europe, Asia, Middle East or Americas. Look at the recent market share...50-some % for Symbian and 11 % for Windows Mobile. Let me hold your hand while I pull you back from the Dark Side... Luke..

Maciek
www.symbisosis60.com

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 9:45PM]

Symbian? What Symbian? There is no Symbian!

There are UIQ and Series 60. It is a great dis service to UIQ to confuse it with S60. Both are user interfaces laid over the kernel of the operating system known as Symbian. Both, however, are so different in the interface that you can't use Symbian as the blanket term for both.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 7th 2008 10:07PM]

I'm so wanting this to come through.Loones like Matt, a couple of posts above me, is the main reasons why.