Nokia CEO: No plans for Windows Mobile, S60 touch-screen launch in 2H 2008

After Sony Ericsson's big move into Windows Mobile territory (with help from HTC) you can be forgiven for thinking that Nokia might follow suit. Nevertheless, Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, brought down the hammer on those rumors by saying, "We don't have plans to do Windows in mobile at the moment." Read into that time-boxed, English-as-a-second-language statement what you will. Better yet for S60 series fans, he committed to launching the S60 touch-screen platform in the second half of the year. More on the S60 Touch interface as the Mobile World Congress unfolds.

[JAmerican @ Feb 11th 2008 6:31AM]

I like he said "...at the moment."

Windows Mobile could overtake any OS if they just fix their Memory Leakage issue and stop using bloated apps like Windows Media Player Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile. I actually spoke to a lady working for M$ and she told me Pocket IE is so bloated because its basically a stripped down version of the Desktop Browser with a new UI.

If M$ put as much effort into Windows Mobile as they did their Xbo 360, it would kill the competition or at least give them a run for their money.

JAmerican

[Dustin Frazier @ Feb 11th 2008 6:41AM]

Windows mobile already does kill the competition here in the states. I don't like it, but I think it's better than Symbian or Motorolla's OS.

[Dustin Frazier @ Feb 11th 2008 6:42AM]

Grrr I give the second L for free.

[Pdexter @ Feb 11th 2008 6:44AM]

Thought in a same time winmo is so far behind Symbian s60 in sales that it would make long time for them to get any hold in globally and personally i dont belive they ever will be even close to number one place.

[Joel Stephen @ Feb 11th 2008 8:49AM]

You are so right the need to take WinMo back to code and start again and I actually would like it if they used a modified 360 dashboard with a flash feel as the new interface would be great and the ability to use displays with colors in the millions would be nice....and get rid of all that bloated crap they shove in I guess the only consequence of doing this is that there may be compatibility problems with old programs...and for goodness sake make the bloody UI finger friendly and not only skins like we use now but actually make it and all programs developed for it able to be finger friendly

[Tom @ Feb 11th 2008 6:39AM]

You also gotta remember that OPK is more like a politician than a superstar-CEO, simply because Nokia span the entire mobile phone range from cheap-n-cheerful to Engadgets favourite pr0n.

[gideon @ Feb 11th 2008 6:43AM]

Well what do you expect Nokia to say? They just bought Trolltech which includes Qt/Embeded and Linux+Qt-based Qtopia. Next generation Nokia smart phones might use that instead of the S60.

[Wolfpaw @ Feb 11th 2008 7:34AM]

Nokia's communications director Kari Tuutti stated to the Finnish press on Friday that the company is not in negotiations with Microsoft in regards of Windows Mobile and that Nokia's smartphone operating system strategy remains completely unchanged. Nokia's smartphones are based on the S60 platform while the internet tablets are based on a Linux platform.

He further stated that Nokia and Microsoft have several areas of co-operation in audio and video codecs, drm technology and platform level compatibility.

Source (in Finnish):
http://www.tietoviikko.fi/doc.ot?f_id=1305594

[Dankoozy @ Feb 11th 2008 7:42AM]

Great news! I never liked windows mobile, but i'm no fan of touch screens either.. well maybe its nice to have the touch screen if you can operate the phone without using it. so it would be like just an extra input method unlike windoze mobile where for some things you just have to touch the screen

[Pro7 @ Feb 11th 2008 7:57AM]

No surprise here. Windows Mobile is functional as Symbian, but twice as complicated (useless). On the other hand it is ugly, it doesn't look as good as the Iphone OS. So there is really no rational reason to implement Win into Nokia.

[Gomem @ Feb 11th 2008 12:36PM]

Its no surprise to me that Nokia ain't doing a WimMo phone, seen as Nokia owns Symbian.

[silverblackvoid @ Feb 11th 2008 8:42AM]

well its obvious isn't it? nokia owns a major stake at symbian ltd. so instead of embedding WinMo, they can improve the already fast,effecient and flexible symbian os.

[Atanas Boev @ Feb 11th 2008 9:42AM]

Finhglish:) "non observance of the forbidance will result in crime penalty"

[Atanas Boev @ Feb 11th 2008 9:43AM]

And of course, I meant "Finnglish". Not that my English is much better :)

[Live Crunch @ Feb 11th 2008 10:49AM]

Well they don't have stuff at the "moment" but i bet by end of this year they are going to release it.

LC knows!

[michaelocc @ Feb 11th 2008 12:00PM]

And while we're on the subject of Windows Mobile and Nokia S60s, you might be interested to learn that a new browser - powered by the same WebKit engine that drives the S60, Safari, and the iPhone - is now available on Windows Mobile for the first time from Torch Mobile (http://www.torchmobile.com). Launched today at MWC 2008 in Barcelona.

I know, I know - I'm a shameless flack. But heck - at least it's on topic :-)

[Tim @ Feb 11th 2008 3:22PM]

Awwww c'mon