Microsoft & Nokia partnership is what both need to return to former glory

Die hard Microsoft fans-- specifically those who bought Windows phones against all odds, are going to be rewarded soon for their patience and loyalty to the brand.

Microsoft and mobile handset maker Nokia are partnering to release a new line of smartphones that are not only generating a lot of buzz from all corners of the technophile world, but could also restore both companies to their earlier competitive advantage.

Neither Microsoft nor Nokia have been greatly successful-- especially Nokia in recent years, but the two together are working hard to forge a new image and release new products that will be globally sought-after.

Microsoft and Nokia realize that it will take more than simply pre-loading existing or future Nokia phones with the Windows Phone operating system to make the partnership successful, and their solution is both elegant and exciting at the same time.

What they have planned is to establish what Nokia CEO Stephen Elop calls a "third ecosystem" to compete with Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms, which will include not just mobile phones and the Windows OS, but also an extension to mobile app developers, app stores, wireless carriers, and a lot more.

The two companies plan to create an exclusive alternative to both Apple and Android phones, that provides an entirely different experience and that will change the mobile phone market.
So far, the hype is inconclusive, but very positive. Both Microsoft and Nokia have released excellent products in the past few months-- Microsoft with its Windows Phone 7.5 (codenamed "Mango") update, which brought over 500 crucial changes to the operating system.
For its part, Nokia now offers the new mobile phone concept (codenamed "Sea Ray"), which isn't available yet, but looks very sleek and has a lot of people talking. Maybe it's just the codenames, but people are definitely talking and that what's important.
While no one can foretell the future of this partnership, if the current state of interest in any indication of their potential success, then we just might be seeing the start of a true success story, where Microsoft and Nokia both come from behind in the smartphone race and overtake, or at least keep up with the more established "ecosystems."
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.