Nokia ties up with Microsoft to counter Apple, Google

Nokia Oyj, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, has announced a software partnership with Microsoft Corp, to take on the challenge posed by Google Inc and Apple Inc.

Nokia's shares were down as much as 12 per cent, the steepest fall in 10 months following the company's plan to make Microsoft's Windows its primary software was seen as an indication of the strong challenge from Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. (See: Nokia Microsoft to tango with Windows Phone 7 alliance?).

According to analysts, the move was a clear admission of Nokia's own platform strategy having faltered. They add the winner in the strategy would be Microsoft, but both companies had no readymade solutions to live up to the challenge at the moment.

Stephen Elop, Nokia's new chief executive officer is struggling to revive the company after the huge fall in the company's market share which was down to 27.1 per cent last quarter from 50.8 per cent when Apple shipped its iPhone in June 2007, according to Gartner Inc. The company has lost over 60 per cent of its market value in that time.

Microsoft, whose Windows Mobile software licenses were doubling annually prior to the appearance on the scene of iPhone in 2007 has been struggling to win acceptance for its revamped Windows Phone 7 software. According to the Redmond, Washington-based software maker, it shipped over 2 million licenses for the new smartphone system in its first quarter on the market.

Under the plan unveiled today, the two companies would combine assets develop mobile products on a joint basis. The two companies will collaborate on joint marketing with Nokia's Maps product integrated into Microsoft's services, while Microsoft's development tools would create applications for Nokia Windows phones.