News has recently leaked that Nokia may be working with Microsoft’s Zune team to integrate Zune Marketplace content on their mobile phones. This will come as a surprise to those who saw Zune as a platform for Windows mobile devices to compete with the iPhone, but, as ZuneScene points out, it may be an attempt by Microsoft to develop multiple angles of attack on the juggernaut of high end mobile devices that is the iPhone.
This would be an interesting move by Nokia also, especially considering that they do not support windows mobile on their devices. It is the complete opposite of the Symbian-Android open source operating system that was rumored to be in the works a few weeks ago. Such a partnership would actually make more sense, but the rumor was quickly extinguished by both sides.
What this does tell us, if the source is credible, is that neither Microsoft or Nokia thinks they can take on Apple in the 3G space by themselves. Both companies have long been scrutinized for their inability to tackle Apple in the 3G mobile space; Nokia especially due to their specialty in the realm. And though Nokia has seen tremendous success in India and other foreign markets, they must develop 3G platform that can compete with Apple as mobile technology progresses, and as Apple begins to expand overseas. Nokia still maintains a large lead in the market, but is seeing it slowly slip away.
Nokia also must be wary of Google’s Android, which is also taking the open source route to compete in the market. Though there has been dissension between Google and Android over use of the open source stack, Google is always the last person you want as a primary competitor.
Both companies have long been scrutinized for their inability to tackle Apple in the 3G mobile space; Nokia especially due to their specialty in the realm…
Are you really serious…. Apple is just a very small player in this space. The UI of Apple might be great, but on all other accounts it’s being trashed by Nokia’s phones. Apples are for the high end market while Nokia can cater all parts of the market..
It would make perfect sense and it something could very well also end un in blackberries. The expansion of Zune as a App for WM7 was going to be a big boost enough to compete. Nokia ditching their OVI service and going with Zune would be not just a boost but a serious boom that would position Zune as the top Mobile Media store in no time and second biggest music store in general. i would like to see it happen
Robbie.
Nokia does serve a much larger portion of the mobile market than Apple, but I was speaking of how, despite their efforts, Nokia has been unable to compete with Apple when it comes to smart phones, and as mobile technology progresses their lead in the market could continue to diminish.
I am mystified, Cameron, how you can make such a claim of a manufacturer that sold more than 60 million smart phones last year, nearly all 3G! If anyone can’t compete, it’s Apple. Nokia is by far and away the world’s market leader in the 3G/smartphone space, beating out it’s number two competitor (RIM, not Apple) several times over.
http://www.canalys.com/pr/2008/r2008021.htm
It’s becoming increasingly clear that everyone at TechCrunch is an Apple fanboy with little respect for the truth of the market place. I urge you to try to see through the hype of the Apple hype machine… honestly, this blog is becoming more and more irrelevant what with these kind of comments and Arrington’s incessant troll post attempts at generating traffic.
Then why should they build the OVI Platform?
Nokia woul be very shortsighted, if the give the platform to Microsoft. The iTunes/iPhone/iPod connection is what really makes the the whole thing special and so lucrative for Apple.
Nokia needs to control those both sides or they will be controlled…