Microsoft, Nokia phone to be out by 2012

Microsoft and Nokia have begun work on the first Nokia OVI smartphones, based on Microsoft software, according to Reuters.


Following the partnership, which was announced in February, Nokia Chief Executive Stephen Elop told Reuters that Windows-based Nokia phones will be on sale from 2012. Elop has said he feels under pressure and would like to deliver the device by the end of 2011.
“We’re right now, today, having people work on the first Windows Phone devices from Nokia. That work is already under way. If this was an acquisition scenario, that wouldn’t be possible,” Elop said.
The partnership between Nokia and Microsoft has not yet been finalised, but Elop said he hopes this will happen in the next couple of months.
The Chief Executive has rubbished rumours by a German magazine that a cull on Nokia top management is planned. One senior executive was dropped in his line-up that was announced last month.
“Now what happens is accountability. If someone’s not succeeding, they need to be helped or they need to be moved along. In my context, that will absolutely be the case,” he said. “So there’s a team in place. It’s now a new team of my new leadership, newly minted in terms of their new roles. Now they have to perform.”
Elop also refuted claims that Microsoft was planning on purchasing Nokia.
“I’m not aware of a strategic interest that Microsoft would have in the rest of the business,” Elop said. “To the extent that a partnership has been formed around what they’re really interested in, then what would an acquisition bring other than a good year of anti-trust investigation, huge turmoil, delays?”
Nokia was originally considering a partnership with Google, but decided there were too many other Android devices to let its creation stand out.