Microsoft, Nokia partnership raises questions about WinMo

Microsoft and Nokia made their alliance official last week, announcing a partnership that creates a mobile version of Microsoft Office on Nokia smartphones based on the Symbian platform in a bid to loosen Research in Motion's grip on enterprise users. But the deal is raising questions about the future of the Windows Mobile platform.

The agreement calls for Microsoft and Nokia to jointly design, develop and market productivity solutions targeting mobile professionals, bringing Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration and device management software to a range of smartphones, beginning with Nokia's Eseries portfolio--the companies will also team up to market the solutions to businesses, carriers and subscribers.

The deal poses major questions about what role the beleaguered Windows Mobile operating system will play in Microsoft's future plans. Research firm Gartner contends the partnership may signal the end of the platform: "Despite loud protestations that Microsoft is deeply committed to WinMo, they wouldn't have needed this alliance with Nokia if WinMo were the leading smartphone operating system," wrote Gartner analyst Nick Jones in a blog post on the agreement. "I've noted before in my blog that I am becoming more concerned about [Windows Mobile's] future and I worry that WM7 could even be the last throw of the dice. Imagine you're [Microsoft CEO] Steve Ballmer, and in two years time WinMo was still 4th in smartphone market share. How much longer would you keep throwing money at it?"

Gartner data indicates that Windows Mobile controls less than 10 percent of the global smartphone OS market, compared with 51 percent for Symbian. "Over the next couple of years Microsoft will face greater competition in mobile email, unified communications and collaboration from a wide range of organizations such as Cisco, Google and RIM," Jones added. "Being available on Symbian--the dominant smartphone platform--will help Microsoft fight these competitors."

Other analysts see Microsoft holding on to WinMo.

"I don't necessarily expect any OEMs to drop Windows Mobile tomorrow just because of this announcement," Chris Schreck, analyst with IM Research, told eWeek. "There is a huge investment in supporting a platform, whether open source or not, so those decisions tend to happen slowly."

For more:
- read this InformationWeek article
- take a look at this article from eWeek

Related Articles:
Microsoft, Nokia expected to bring Office to Nokia devices
Microsoft looking to give all Windows Mobile devices access to new storefront
Microsoft: WinMo 6.5 to outdo iPhone in web browsing
Microsoft bets big on Windows Mobile
Motorola: Windows Mobile 7 devices will be out in 2010