Windows 7: Articles

Despite the announcement of Microsoft releasing new features for the Windows Phone 7 and news of their timely strategic business partnership with Nokia, the world’s biggest and most successful mobile device maker, Verizon, is calmly shrugging off the likely impact on its grand share of the mobile market.

Although many mobile phone operators may feel threatened with the latest move of Nokia, Verizon is not too concerned because they already have a joint venture with Vodafone Group PLC and Verizon only wants CDMA technology in their mobile devices, which Nokia have already abandoned.
Verizon Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone told CNET News that Nokia will have a difficult time breaking into Verizon’s array of devices even if Nokia re-introduced CDMA devices.

Melone added, “I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in, It doesn’t mean that it can’t happen but it would have to be really good ” in a CNET interview in Barcelona, Spain at the Mobile World Congress.
It is totally understandable for Verizon to issue such a statement as they have a spectacular pipeline of devices for 2011. Verizon is already crowded with high-tech devices thanks to its strong relationships with HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and the recent addition of Apple.

No wonder it’s easy for them to dismiss Nokia and Windows Phone 7.

Melone also said that it is important for the mobile industry to have an additional major operating system, but is skeptical that Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 will be the next one. It might be easy to assume that for now, but consumers will decide. Even if Verizon’s Melone doubts the viability of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 in the mobile device market, the performance of the OS will determine the traction it will provide.

A strong OS is certainly needed. Melone agrees and stated, “It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties.”

Despite Melone’s claims, Windows Phone 7 in a Nokia device is a big threat to all smartphone device makers and my feeling is that Verizon is feeling the pressure already, prompting this early dismissal.

For Nokia, the Windows Phone 7 deal is a great move for them as they attempt to grab a slice of the pie in the North American smartphone market, where it has so far struggled, while Microsoft can certainly benefit from the partnership as well as it tries to assert itself in the mobile OS arena.
For consumers, it looks like they are going to be the real winners, as their partnership can only mean that there will be better choice of devices coming their way.