Pressure on to deliver first Nokia Windows phone by 2011

[woops, sorry John. WP Supercache did not show me your post for some reason and I double posted]

Here’s a summary

• Nokia-Microsoft deal official
• First windows phone may arrive in 2011
• Mass volume due 2012
• Windows Phone developer registration free to all Nokia developers.
• Publishing and distribution of apps through single portal for Windows Phone, Symbian and Series 40. (All going to Market Place or Ovi Store?
• Nokia will start paying royalties to Microsoft when these Nokia Windows Phones start shipping. Competitive royalties based on this unique partnership and amount of Windows Phones Nokia will be (expected to be) shipped.
• In recognition of this unique partnership and Nokia’s contributions, Nokia will receive payments measured in the BILLIONS of dollars (not just value from MS in the billions, ACTUAL payments). Just how much though?
• Sharing of intelectual properties that makes Nokia (and Microsoft) forces to be reckoned with in Patent wars (*cough*Apple*)
• This is the only time in this entire post MeeGo is mentioned. Not even for the single portal thing.

You can read more detail below. Cheers to Jonne, wes? and Aldarberto for the heads up!

Over at Nokia Conversations, they have a post titled:

One Step Closer to First Nokia Device built on Windows Phone

http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/04/21/one-step-closer-to-first-nokia-device-built-on-windows-phone/

 

After 10 weeks of intense collaboration, we are pleased to report that Nokia and Microsoft have signed the definitive agreement for our strategic partnership to build a new global mobile ecosystem that is unlike any other. It’s a bold claim. But collectively we’ve moved from intent to agreement in such a short period. Actually, it’s even faster than we expected which makes this a perfect example of our commitment to our partnership and the speed at which we plan to move together.

10 weeks. I’m intrigued to the specifics of this deal. Some more insight in the press release at end of this post. Ecosystem unlike any other huh? Too true, Dr Öistämö; a very bold claim indeed.

Faster than expected closure of the deal. Excellent. One of the initial risks (of many) was that it would take Nokia much too long to finalize the deal.

As a result of our negotiations and discussions, we’ve aligned our teams and assets, and clearly see the potential to change the way people use their mobile devices for the better. Hundreds of our team members are already working together toward a multi-year product roadmap and are on-schedule to deliver volume shipments in 2012 although the pressure is on for first delivery in 2011. In the coming years we will aggressively work to take Nokia products using Windows Phone to new geographies, at new price points and sharing new experiences for customers around the world to enjoy.

 

• Multi year product roadmap. (is it still 5 years?)
• On schedule to deliver volume shipments in 2012.
• Pressure on to deliver in 2011

As new partners, we recognize the importance of having a strong and growing ecosystem. And, that ecosystem is fueled by our three favorite words. Developers! Developers! Developers! Since announcing our intention to partner, the number of Windows Phone apps submitted on a daily basis has almost doubled, further illustrating the level of excitement and interest among the community for Windows Phone. Developers like Angry Birds maker, Rovio; deal of the day supersite, Groupon; hot social app, Ditto; and UK mega-retailer, Sainsbury’s, are all committing to the Windows Phone platform. And, to make joining the Windows Phone ecosystem even easier, in the first year we will make Windows Phone developer registration free for all published Nokia developers.

• Shame Nokia hasn’t treated it’s developers so kindly.

You will see unique innovation and differentiation across hardware, software and services as the Nokia products using Windows Phone roll-out, delivering consumer experiences in mapping, search, gaming, social media, advertising and productivity. Along the way, you can expect an increased focus on mobile business and productivity scenarios that build on Microsoft’s cloud services, new features for Symbian, and new capabilities for Windows Phone devices.

• Unique innovation in hardware AND software?  Unique for Nokia or the market as a whole?

Our teams are working together toward a common goal with you, the consumer, at the heart of our experience. With set processes and dedicated teams across both companies, we have created and mapped out ways to collaborate. In order to innovate as partners, we know we have to go beyond the usual pairing of phone hardware with software. That’s why we are purposely creating a truly unique and deeply integrated partnership and are on a fast track to deliver.

We clearly see the potential, and the stage is set, and we look forward to the years ahead. Come and join us on our journey.

Words, words, words. I think a lot of us, fans and sceptics, are understandably doubtful. We have had much promises before that have either not arrived on time, not yet or not at all.

Nokia’s Ovi Maps 3D this week did get me so excited about Nokia gain, which I haven’t been since the N900 and N8. With Ovi Maps 3D, there is much praise not just from us, but much more importantly, the wider media as a whole. I want to feel that same pride/excitement for a job well done on Nokia’s new high end devices too.

I think we are on set for 2011 launch of the first windows phone.

Official Press Release Below:

Espoo, Finland and Redmond, US – Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement on a partnership that will result in a new global mobile ecosystem, utilizing the very complementary assets of both companies. Completed ahead of schedule, the definitive agreement is consistent with the joint announcement made on February 11.

In addition to agreeing to the terms of their partnership, including joint contributions to the development of the new ecosystem, Nokia and Microsoft also announced significant progress on the development of the first Nokia products incorporating Windows Phone. With hundreds of personnel already engaged on joint engineering efforts, the companies are collaborating on a portfolio of new Nokia devices. Nokia has also started porting key applications and services to operate on Windows Phone and joint outreach has begun to third party application developers.

“At the highest level, we have entered into a win-win partnership,” said Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation. “It is the complementary nature of our assets, and the overall competitiveness of that combined offering, that is the foundation of our relationship.”

“Our agreement is good for the industry,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, Nokia and Microsoft will innovate with greater speed, and provide enhanced opportunities for consumers and our partners to share in the success of our ecosystem.“

The relationship is structured around four broad areas:

1. A combination of complementary assets, which make the partnership truly unique, including:

– Nokia to deliver mapping, navigation, and certain location-based services to the Windows Phone ecosystem. Nokia will build innovation on top of the Windows Phone platform in areas such as imaging, while contributing expertise on hardware design and language support, and helping to drive the development of the Windows Phone platform. Microsoft will provide Bing search (ooh exciting stuff -_-, on a serious note, BING for iPad is really cool) services across the Nokia device portfolio as well as contributing strength in productivity, advertising, gaming, social media and a variety of other services. The combination of navigation with advertising and search will enable better monetization of Nokia’s navigation assets and completely new forms of advertising revenue.

– Joint developer outreach and application sourcing, to support the creation of new local and global applications, including making Windows Phone developer registration free for all Nokia developers.

– Opening a new Nokia-branded global application store that leverages the Windows Marketplace infrastructure. Developers will be able to publish and distribute applications through a single developer portal to hundreds of millions of consumers that use Windows Phone, Symbian and Series 40 devices.

– Contribution of Nokia’s expertise in operator billing to ensure participants in the Windows Phone ecosystem can take advantage of Nokia’s billing agreements with 112 operators in 36 markets.

2. Microsoft will receive a running royalty from Nokia for the Windows Phone platform, starting when the first Nokia products incorporating Windows Phone ship. The royalty payments are competitive and reflect the large volumes that Nokia expects to ship, as well as a variety of other considerations related to engineering work to which both companies are committed. Microsoft delivering the Windows Phone platform to Nokia will enable Nokia to significantly reduce operating expenses.

3. In recognition of the unique nature of Nokia’s agreement with Microsoft and the contributions that Nokia is providing, Nokia will receive payments measured in the billions of dollars.

4. An agreement that recognizes the value of intellectual property and puts in place mechanisms for exchanging rights to intellectual property. Nokia will receive substantial payments under the agreement.

With the definitive agreement now signed, both companies will begin engaging with operators, developers and other partners to help the industry understand the benefits of joining the new ecosystem. At the same time, work will continue on developing Nokia products on the Windows Phone platform, with the aim of securing volume device shipments in 2012. The scale of both companies’ mutual commitment is significant and is in keeping with the intention to build a new ecosystem based on this long-term, strategic partnership.

Category: Nokia, Windows Phone