The moment of truth has come up for Nokia : the caller is expected to launch its first phones based on Microsoft ’s Windows Phone OS Wednesday at Nokia World in London . CEO Stephen Elop will have to convince consumer , operators , developers and retailer that the products can compete with the likes ofApple ’s iPhone 4Sand Samsung ’s Android - based Galaxy menage .
In the eight month since Nokia announced its decision to go with Microsoft ’s Windows Phone , Nokia has seen itssmartphone market share erodewhile the sale of Windows Phone have remained abject .
“ Stephen Elop has made it very percipient that Nokia World will be the unveiling of the first products , and it will localize the tone for what Nokia hopes is the beginning of its convalescence in the eminent - end smartphone mart , ” say Geoff Blaber , analyst at CCS Insight .
Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop, left, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer shake on their companies’ new partnership earlier this year.
Under Elop ’s leadership , Nokia has already address some of the company ’s problem in low - end mobile earpiece , according to Carolina Milanesi , research vice president at Gartner . But Windows Phone is the most crucial part of Nokia ’s new strategy .
“ For me , Nokia World is about Nokia showing that it is on the correct path . But I do n’t expect that any production plunge this workweek will be a magic cure , ” say Milanesi .
Nokia ’s first Windows Phone - based products are also very important for Microsoft and operators , grant to Blaber .
“ hustler desperately need a rejoinder to Android . They need Nokia to do back and be competitive . Given the fact Nokia has n’t been its most competitive in the last few months , [ operators ] have become increasingly hooked on Android , and that has sure as shooting not been to their vantage , ” said Blaber .
Nokia is also a big bet for Microsoft .
Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop , get out , and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer shake on their companies ’ new partnership in the first place this class .
“ It was a major coup d’etat for Microsoft to get Nokia onboard . Nokia ’s trade name may have taken a hammering , and its market share has come under strain in a mass of markets globally . But you ca n’t dismiss the fact that Nokia still has unsurpassed plate and a immense floor of distribution across a host of grocery store globally , ” he said .
That makes Nokia the best vehicle to drive Windows Phone far and wide , and really start ramp up gross revenue mass , according to Blaber .
“ If Microsoft can get Nokia onboard , and take off to raise the installed base , then Windows Phone becomes more attractive for other licensee , as well , ” say Blaber .
source with knowledge of the Wednesday launch say that Nokia is expected to launch two phones , one gamy - end model and one mid - market sound , which is what HTC has done with the Radar and the Titan . The latter comes with a 4.7 - inch screen , but Nokia is apparently sticking with smaller sizes on both theoretical account .
Back in June , a video recording surfaced in which Elop demonstrated a Windows Phone - based smartphone code - describe Sea Ray , which had an 8 - megapixel camera and screen protected by Gorilla glass .
Elop also said that the industrial intention of the MeeGo - based N9 would subsist on , and that Nokia was make for on other Windows - based phones .
Subsequent leak and hearsay have hinted at a identification number of different product names , including Sun and Nokia 800 , and specification include 3.7 - inch screens .
Nokia has said its Windows - based smartphones will stand out from other mathematical product based on Microsoft ’s oculus sinister , as well as Apple ’s iPhone and devices ground on Android . But the ship’s company has n’t had much prison term to work on how it will do that .
“ I do n’t expect much differentiation on the feel and feel … but we will credibly hear something about maps because that is probably the biggest plus Nokia has compared to the other licensees , ” say Milanesi , who thinks that Nokia will have more to say on what will arrange its product aside by the time of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February .
Pricing is also of import , and it should n’t be high than € 400 ( US$ 550 ) before subsidies , according to Milanesi .
Nokia will use Windows Phone 7.5 , also known asMango . While the upgrade represents significant improvements for Microsoft ’s OS , the platform still lacks features that are becoming increasingly common in high - end telephone set base on Android , let in LTE ( Long Term Evolution ) and support for dual - burden processors , which the iPhone 4S also has .
“ The bigger issue of the two is the deficiency of LTE , not so much in European markets , but Nokia ask Windows Phone to tug sales in the U.S. market place , but without LTE that will be very , very unmanageable , ” articulate Blaber , who look both LTE and treble - core central processor to be added to Windows Phone next year .
However , even if Nokia could put LTE on its phones , sample to take on the U.S. market place from the get-go , where Nokia has been struggling for a long time , would be a error , consort to Milanesi .
“ I think it would be suicidal , to be honest . That ’s because the U.S. marketplace is very crowded , and during the vacation everyone wants a product on the shelves . Also , the operators are holler the jibe even more so than during other time of the year , ” said Milanesi .
Nokia has said it will sell Windows Phone - based smartphones to consumers in select nation subsequently this quarter and will then increase the number of country and found spouse during the next calendar year .
The selected markets should be countries where the brand is still strong and it can trade phones because they come from Nokia , and then Nokia can build on that , according to Milanesi .
