I don't know about this one. It makes sense and could be completely plausible but then it could be just idle speculation as things heat up heading towards Mobile World Congress in Barcelona starting on Monday.
Nokia may be considering putting Windows Mobile on some of their phones.
Okay, you can pick yourself off the floor now.
My first sighting of this still unconfirmed rumor came from Engadget Mobile (and where I got the picture).
"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."
Okay, as the commentators said, Microsoft is free to talk to anyone they want about anything, doesn't mean it's going to happen. Not that it would be a bad thing, but my thinking is Nokia is loving being top-dog world wide with their own OS and that suits them just fine. Sure, they would like to crack the US market but they seem to at least have some devices that could do it for them if US carriers would carry them.
Would they rebuff Microsoft and Windows Mobile? You can talk without having to make any sort of commitment and, according to the rest of the Engadget Mobile post, it looks like it is what it is, just talk at this stage.
Then, however, I hit up msmobiles.com, and they are significantly stirring the pot that maybe something really is afoot because of all the Microsoft top brass that will be at Mobile World:
"Even when Microsoft was unveiling new major versions of Windows Mobile, like Windows Mobile 6, only Pieter Knook was present at main press conference of Microsoft at that event each year, but next week, when only minor version upgrade (Windows Mobile 6.1) is being announced, a higher manager (Robbie Bach) is present. Why? Because Microsoft will announce cooperation with Nokia and Windows Mobile phones made by Nokia are coming:"
All the usual Windows Mobile haters are chiming in saying this will be the death of Nokia which yours truly doesn't believe (obviously). If they are in talks and if Nokia is listening, it would probably end up being like the deal Microsoft struck with Palm: two versions of the same phone, one with Windows Mobile, one running Symbian S60. Then, it's up to the consumers as to which OS they like better. And Nokia can potentially start moving more high-end carrier subsidized handsets and start to open their market share.
But, why many of the Microsoft top brass are going to be on hand is anyone's guess. Msmobiles makes a credible argument for some sort of MAJOR announcement if so many of the top brass are going to be present. All the rest of us are simply expecting to finally hear the official word on Windows Mobile 6.1.
Or, Robbie Bach (head of Entertainment and Device division) wants to see Spain and this is a good way to write off the trip as a business expense.
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