I had written this initially as a comment on Alkags post about Nokia Partnership with Microsoft but noticed my comment was way too long and decided to make it a post instead. Well, i disagree with Alkags on some data about the Nokia N8, i have been using the Nokia N8 for around 3 months now, since it was released. I am not able to argue about the sequence of functionality since the closest i have come to iphone 3gs was at The great Rift lodge, Naivasha when David Mugo (@raidarmax) let me have a feel of his, the blackberry, never. So lemme talk about my N8.
About synchronizing mail, i use gmail and yahoomail on my phone and every-time i have access to wifi i sync my mail (you dont wanna to that on any smartphone with your credit ask @Kahenya). As i said i cant compare them, but i have an easy time with my phone usage, well except sometime during my calls and my cheek misses the red light supposed to disable the screen during this time and i hold the call with my cheek (Note, am not chubby cheeked).
About the #nokMsft partnership i feel you, i also have a sense of worry about the developers who will feel they are not valued in this whole issue, but Mr. Elop said that symbian will be around for a while, well upto 2yrs.
About African developers, we cant say that its a lose all event. The #NokMsft partnership does in no way harm the S40 and S60 which bears the biggest uptake of phones in africa. We are yet as developers to make money from smartphones as such, the mobile phone users in Africa who use phones and applications in huge numbers are on these latter version of symbian, which will still be in use and supported. Make hay while it shines. See the stats
I think there is a positive from the partnership, a great UI. Nokia, through Mr Elop said they are going to customize the windows phone 7 to best suit their user needs, and to make the Nokia feel still around. Said that during a live event that happened yesterday.
Am looking forward to using the Nokia on a windows phone 7 and make my serious stand about user experience.
Here are the terms of the proposed partnership:
- Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.
- Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.
- Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
- Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.
- Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience
- Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
- Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.
- Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.
By the way, thanx to the recent Symbian upgrade, am able to draft an Office word/Excel/PowerPoint document from my phone, you hadn’t found that while you had it. I dont wanna sound biased, but being a PC user i think i will find this a positive, the UI and funtionalities.
