Third Eye
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Software giant Microsoft is in discussion with Nokia about plans to have the handset maker add Windows Mobile-powered devices to its portfolio
Virtually all Nokia phones currently run the Symbian operating system and such a move would be a major change for the industry leader. Microsoft’s mobile communications business international marketing director John Starkweather confirmed talks were taking place with Nokia but would not confirm when any announcement would be made.
“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,” he told IT Wire.
While Nokia phones don’t yet have a Windows OS, they do use a range of other Microsoft software. This includes ActiveSynch for connecting to Exchange Servers and the PlayReady DRM technology used to protect purchased music and video content.
Starkweather said the existing relationship between the two companies was strong and he was enthusiastic about it developing further in the future.
“We work closely with Nokia and we would love to have them go all the way,” he said. “It’s something we talk about all the time.”
His comments come ahead of the giant GSMA Mobile World Conference being held in Barcelona next week.
Many companies use the show as a platform to make major strategic and technology announcements. Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo is one of the keynote speakers.
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