Microsoft e Nokia oficializam parceria: Windows Phone 7 será o padrão dos novos smartphones

Confirmando os rumores, Nokia e Microsoft acabaram de anunciar uma forte parceria, que está no topo da nova estratégia da empresa finlandesa de celulares: o Windows Phone 7 será usado nos principais aparelhos da companhia, os serviços da Microsoft como Bing, Office e Xbox Live aparecerão nos aparelhos e o Ovi Maps virará o padrão da empresa de Seattle. Stephen Elop, CEO da companhia e ex-Microsoft, e Steve Ballmer comemoram o casamento neste vídeo:

As empresas divulgaram um press release conjunto e este vídeo para anunciar a estratégia. Os pontos principais:

- A Nokia adotará o Windows Phone. E não só isso, ela deverá opinar sobre o novo sistema em áreas como foto, integração com hardware e tradução para outros idiomas, tornando o WP7 na prática uma parceria entre as duas empresas;

- Os mapas da Nokia (Ovi Maps, antigo Nokia Maps) estarão nos principais serviços da Microsoft, como o Bing;

Stephen Elop, que escreveu aquele memorando interno dizendo que o momento seria de mudanças profundas, afirma:

“Hoje, desenvolvedores, operadoras e consumidores querem produtos móveis atraentes, que incluem não só o aparelho em si, mas software, serviços, aplicativos e suporte técnico que o tornam uma bela experiência. Nokia e Microsoft combinarão nossas forças para apresentar um ecossistema sem paralelos em alcance global e escala: agora é uma corrida de três cavalos”.



A notícia aparentemente não foi bem recebida pelos acionistas, e as ações da Nokia caíram 8% na Finlândia logo depois o anúncio. O pronunciamento aos investidores em Londres agora há pouco trouxe outras notícias: o Meego não morreu de vez (um aparelho deve aparecer ainda este ano – um tablet, talvez?) e o Symbian continuará firme e forte, com expectativa de 150 milhões de unidades comercializadas no futuro, mas agora nos aparelhos menos robustos da empresa. O velho sistema fará parte da estratégia para alcançar “o próximo bilhão” de usuários de celular.

A empresa também mexeu – menos do que esperavam – nos quadros de executivos. Sai o cabeça pensador do Meego, e o time de desenvolvimento de smartphones será dividido em dois, aparentemente entre aparelhos mais “normais” e os high-end, com Windows Phone 7. A ver.

Estamos acompanhando o Capital Markets Day, que trará mais detalhes da nova estratégia. O que vocês acharam?

Press Release:

Nokia and Microsoft Announce Plans for a Broad Strategic Partnership to Build a New Global Mobile Ecosystem

Companies plan to combine assets and develop innovative mobile products on an unprecedented scale.

LONDON – Feb. 11, 2011 – Nokia and Microsoft today announced plans to form a broad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem.

Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.

Under the proposed partnership:

• Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.

• Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.

• Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.

• Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.

• Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience

• Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.

• Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.

• Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.

“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”

“I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale.The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise in hardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.”

Please visit http://www.nokia.com/press for press materials.

 fonte: Gizmodo