Windows Phone 7 on Nokia?

 

Windows Phone 7 on Nokia?

Even as Microsoft finally announced those sales numbers, rumors suggested that the company was in discussions with Nokia over porting Windows Phone 7 onto the latter's mobile devices.

Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, in an editorial published on Russian Website Mobile Review, suggested that Nokia and Microsoft had initiated those talks a month ago. "They are talking about the creation of a new line of Windows Phone devices," according to Unwired View, paraphrasing Murtazin's piece, "which could be sold under Nokia brand, via Nokia distribution channels and have some typical Nokia features."

In the past, Nokia has denied any intention of adding to its smartphone ecosystem. "This stance was strongly reinforced by our management during Nokia World, and we have no plans to use other operating systems," company spokesperson Leo McKay told Bloomberg in September, the last time rumors emerged that Nokia would integrate Windows Phone 7 into its offerings.

According to one analyst, though, adopting Windows Phone 7 could prove disastrous unless paired with a clearly defined strategy. "If this is the path, it could be beneficial to both companies," Rob Enderle, principal analyst of the Enderle Group, wrote in a Dec. 20 e-mail to eWEEK. "If it is yet another hedge in a massive bet that includes platforms from Nokia, Intel and Microsoft, it will spread Nokia's resources too thin for them to execute well on any of the initiatives."

In order words, Enderle added, "Nokia needs to pick a path and properly resource it." Nokia CEO Stephen Elop formerly served as Microsoft's Business Division president, another X factor in any negotiations.

Anti-piracy

In more desktop-centric news, Microsoft this week canceled Office Genuine Advantage, an anti-piracy measure that asks users to validate their copy of Office before downloading updates and add-ons. "The Office Genuine Advantage ('OGA') program has been retired," reads a note on the Microsoft Support Website. "For more information about the benefits of genuine Office, please visit the following Website." That link leads to a page describing the benefits of genuine Office.