The Microsoft-Nokia could affect Windows Mobile

The recent agreement between Microsoft and Nokia in the mobile software could allow them to keep the hand facing publishers competitors but it may be prejudicial to the operating system Windows Mobile giant, analysts said.
The agreement announced last week by the two groups is particularly adapted to Word, Excel and PowerPoint, three of Microsoft's flagship software, the Symbian operating system which equips some models of Nokia mobile phones. It could therefore reduce the value of handset manufacturers for the Google Android system and allow Microsoft to keep a player in the mobile segment, despite the low market share of Windows Mobile.
"It is possible that Microsoft has admitted that he did not succeed in the battle of OS (operating system, editor's note), now that HTC and Samsung seem to lean toward Android," said Tero Kuittinen, an analyst with MKM Partners. Android has a strong pull on the telecom sector, since many manufacturers are planning to launch aircraft operating through the system developed by Google. However, few models have actually been created yet.
"Microsoft seems to be betting that the profit from the extension of Office on Nokia will compensate for any loss due to reduced sales of Windows Mobile licenses," said Neil Mawston from Strategy Analytics.
The group of Redmond was forced to opt for radical solutions, not only to counter Android but also address the changing status of Symbian, bought a few months ago by Nokia and made freely available to other handset manufacturers. In fact, with Windows Mobile, Microsoft became the only major publisher to offer a license fee for its mobile operating system.
Although Microsoft has tried to reassure its commitment to Windows Mobile, many people see in agreement with Nokia indicates that the U.S. group seeks to limit its investment in its own system. The agreement could also jeopardize the sales of smaller handset makers like HTC, who rely heavily on Windows.
For years, as Microsoft tries to conquer the market for operating systems for mobile, but despite massive investment, success is not always the rendezvous: Windows Mobile does better than the 10% share market, far from some 50% of Symbian.
Over the past two years, the success of RIM, the maker of Blackberry, and Apple, the creator of the iPhone, Microsoft has relegated to fourth place among the editors of the operating system, while performing qu'Android encouraging start. "The agreement with Nokia could further marginalize Windows operating system," J. Kuittinen.
According to research firm Gartner, global sales of all manufacturers that equip their phones with Windows Mobile accounted for the period April to June to 3.8 million units, a 9% market share in smartphones. In comparison, Nokia has sold on its own during this period 3.7 million copies of its 5800 phone with a touchscreen. On the quarter, overall sales of Symbian phones accounted for 21 million units.
"I see this as an implicit admission from Microsoft that Windows Mobile is not up. I am increasingly concerned for his future and I fear that Windows Mobile 7 is the last throw of the dice" wrote on a blog Gartner analyst Nick Jones.