OK - the 1st of April passed, and no Windows Mobile powered Nokia phone materialized. Just like I expected it. However, a source close to Nokia(who has provided me with loads of interesting information on the future of S60…more soon) has sent me the following bit of text:
I don’t remember seeing a “Windows” division on any of the org charts I saw. They don’t seem too stuck on “not in invented here” syndrome and I suspect the devices group could put Windows on Nokia hardware without causing a fuss. If they haven’t done it then I’d guess that they don’t consider it worthwhile to do a Windows phone (eg. Symbian/ S60 has the same features?).
It looks like people have been “demanding” that Nokia does a Windows device since 2006. There’s a rumor from Feb 2008 that Nokia is going to make a Windows device. I can’t see why they’d bother when they’ve got a technically superior system of their own. Do the needs of a handful of “enterprise” companies that can’t be bothered to teach their programmers how to use something other than Windows really need to dictate how Palm, Nokia, Apple and the Blackberry guys run their business? Palm folded and look at how well that’s worked out for them. Meanwhile Nokia, Apple and the Blackberry guys are doing just fine with their “non-Windows” systems.
In the end, it is exactly as I expected it to be. Nokia could have a few prototypes in-house(given the similarities…for example, my QTek 8500 WMS is almost a 1:1 knockoff of the N71 spec-wise). However, there is little need for them do release these - why should they give up their privileged position?
Any more questions?
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