LONDON - Nokia's big comeback could start this week as the beleaguered cell phone maker is set to introduce its first smartphones based on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system.
On Wednesday, the Finnish cell phone maker will kick off its Nokia World Event here in London where CEO Stephen Elop is expected to provide an update on the company's progress in its close strategic relationship with Microsoft, as well as take the wraps off the first smartphones that will use Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS.
The event is make-or-break for Nokia, which has lost significant market share over the past two years as Apple'siPhone and a slew of devices using the Google Androidoperating system have gobbled up new wireless subscribers all over the world. In addition, the new Nokia phones will be the first products the company has introduced as a part of itsrelationship with Microsoft. In February Nokia announced a partnership with Microsoft and said it would ditch its old Symbian smartphone operating system and replace it with Microsoft's Windows Phone software
The strategy is a huge gamble for Nokia, which has seen smartphone sales stall as it has retrenched. The success of the new Windows Phone smartphones is key to Nokia's turnaround and survival. And now after months of anticipation, the day has finally arrived when Nokia will show off the fruits of its new strategy.
So far, Nokia hasn't provided many details about the new devices or how and where it will launch the new phones. On a quarterly earnings conference call last week, executives said it will launch the devices in a few select markets in the first quarter of 2012 and then expand to more markets later in the year.
The strategy is a huge gamble for Nokia, which has seen smartphone sales stall as it has retrenched. The success of the new Windows Phone smartphones is key to Nokia's turnaround and survival. And now after months of anticipation, the day has finally arrived when Nokia will show off the fruits of its new strategy.
So far, Nokia hasn't provided many details about the new devices or how and where it will launch the new phones. On a quarterly earnings conference call last week, executives said it will launch the devices in a few select markets in the first quarter of 2012 and then expand to more markets later in the year.
