Rumor: Compal shipping 2 million Windows Phones to Nokia in September, release set for October

We've certainly been having a lot of gossip this week, especially about Nokia. Now Nokia's licensed ODM Compal, the very same company that gave us the codenames Tango and Apollo, are rumored to be kicking Nokia manufacturing into high gear. That's according to Dan Nystedt, a former journalist for IDG News and The Wall Street Journal, who tweeted out the following message:

Nokia supplier, Compal, to start shipping Windows Phone 7 smartphones to Nokia in September, total 2 million in Q4, Taiwan media say.

So it looks like Compal is going to start shipping those devices to Nokia so the company can perform its final touches and stock up before a launch. When is that exactly? Many are assuming Nokia is going to sit tight until its own Nokia World 2011 event in late October, but there's a good chance they'll start shipping a few weeks before then. We imagine it would be tough to hold on to two million devices that the world wants to get their hands on (and those are chump numbers for Nokia). This is still a rumor so be warned, but we think this one is set to come true.

Via: The Nokia Blog
Source: Twiter

Nokia devices leaked in new video? (Update 2)

Whoa! What do we have here? A new, leaked video claiming to be official from Nokia and showing off new devices, that's what! My Nokia Blog receives this video from a tipster who was allegedly a Microsoft employee and used a .ovi email address. The video itself looks legit to us despite recycling old images and footage. This could very well have been an internal video that was meant for employees or carriers, but we don't know anything for certain at this point. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the tease after the break.

Source: My Nokia Blog

Update: The video's been removed...which makes this about 1000x more legitimate than before. We'll see.

Update 2: I've reuploaded the video to our own YouTube channel if you missed it! Watch it below and enjoy.

Nokia President talks Windows Phones, Carriers, and America

Nokia: Apple iOS and Android are "outdated" from Venturebeat on Vimeo
Nokia's USA President Chris Weber seems to be making the rounds lately. Earlier Weber sat down with AllThingsD and revealed Symbian will be wiped out entirely in the United States. Now Weber returns in the above video interview with VentureBeat. In it he talks about how Microsoft is differentiating its OS from the reliance on apps, how Nokia is going to become the most "carrier-friendly" manufacturer, and how the company is readying itself to "act like a startup" when push comes to shove this Fall. It's a great interview and we recommend you watch it. There's also an accompanying article that goes more in-depth by mixing in parts of the interview with broad ideas Nokia is talking about, as well as off-screen talks with Weber about other snazzy new features in Mango. Read that here.

Via: The Nokia Blog
Source: VentureBeat

Rumor: Nokia heading to AT&T and T-Mobile with affordable devices, Verizon with the high-end?

The Nokia Blog (which is unofficial by the way) has an interesting piece of gossip about Nokia's upcoming Windows Phone strategy in the United States. For one, their "very reliable source" claims the Sea Ray will not make its way stateside which is a surprising move. However it could be that carriers have had some influence over Nokia's devices and so the Sea Ray design may not have made the transition. The second piece of the rumor organizes how Nokia devices will be represented on each of the major carriers. AT&T and T-Mobile are said to receive "affordable" devices, which probably equates to a mid-range handset for between $100 and $150 on contract. Meanwhile Verizon, who was the very last to enter the Windows Phone race, is going to carry a high-end model. Nothing else was mentioned so we don't know what to make of this.

If this is true, how do you feel about AT&T and T-Mobile, the original Windows Phone launch partners, getting the shaft on a new Nokia while Verizon swoops in to yank the high-end? What about the seemingly left-out Sprint users out there?

Via: WMPU
Source: The Nokia Blog

Rumor: Tango to support low-end hardware, "all about Nokia"

There's been a certain amount of mystery surrounding what comes after the update we haven't even officially received yet. Yes, Tango has been the talk of rumortown lately with the update making a cameo in an app and flaunting some of its new features. The always-reliable Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet has come up with her own set of rumors from anonymous sources that could come true.

Apparently Tango is "all about Nokia", or more specifically the manufacturer's play to drive Windows Phones into the mid and low-end markets as quickly as possible. It wouldn't be the first time a seemingly minor Windows Phone update brought some hardware benefits, as you may recall NoDo brought support for CDMA handsets. However the rumor gets a little more bizarre from there; Tango may just come in two releases and "may be focused largely or even exclusively on the Asian market."

Speculation time! We're more than just a little confused as to how Tango will come as two releases, unless the tipster meant that one would be for high-end devices (for feature updates/bug fixes) while the other would be for the new mid/low-end (for hardware support). When it comes to the Asian market exclusivity of the update, we're left scratching our heads as one of Mango's most touted features is its expansion in Asian language support. However, we do recall ZTE saying their first Windows Phones would release early next year so maybe Tango is somehow related to that? Plus mid/low-end devices go hand-in-hand with Asian markets, so maybe Mango isn't enough in that aspect.

Well don't worry your little noggin' for now because before all of that comes Mango, and it's right around the corner!

Source: ZDNet

Nokia's Symbian devices endangered in the United States, Windows Phone wiping them out for good

This shouldn't come as a major surprise (we hope) but Nokia's already fatally ill Symbian platform won't be gasping for air much longer in the United States. Now Nokia's U.S. President Chris Weber confirms that diagnosis in an interview with AllThingsD.

“When we launch Windows Phones we will essentially be out of the Symbian business, the S40 business, etc., ” Nokia Inc. President Chris Weber said in an interview. “It will be Windows Phone and the accessories around that. The reality is if we are not successful with Windows Phone, it doesn’t matter what we do (elsewhere).”

North America is a priority for Nokia, Weber said, in part because it is a key market for Microsoft and also because Nokia sees it as a key to winning in the smartphone battle globally.

“We’ll develop for North America and make the phones globally available and applicable,” Weber said. “In fact, evidence of that is that the first Windows Phones that will ship are being done by our group in San Diego.”

We also think it's interesting to note that Weber says their first Windows Phones are being produced in San Diego. It also just so happens that Qualcomm's main headquarters is based in San Diego as well, which we can't help but feel is more than just a coincidence. Moving away from our own conspiracy theories, we think Nokia may be making the right move here. It is difficult to redefine a brand when there's still old devices and ideas stinking up the place, so if Nokia really wants a fresh start they're going to have to clean house a bit. Exciting times ahead, people!

Via: PhoneArena
Source: AllThingsD

Qualcomm doesn't have exclusive Windows Phone deal, dual-core Nokia on its way after all?

Well, well, well. You were so adamant to proclaim yourself as the sole chipset provider for upcoming Mango handsets, weren't you Qualcomm? As it turns out, The Inquirer has uncovered your dirty little secret: you don't have an exclusivity agreement with Microsoft! Your very own Raj Talluri, VP of Product Management, has turned against you to reveal the truth:

With Qualcomm's Snapdragon being the reference design for WP7 handsets, it is understandable to think that Microsoft and Qualcomm have signed a piece of paper ensuring some sort of exclusivity. However Raj Talluri, VP of product management at Qualcomm told The INQUIRER that Qualcomm "does not have an exclusive on WP7", adding that "there is no written exclusive".

According to Talluri the reason why Qualcomm's Snapdragon became the default choice is due to "partners finding Qualcomm's Snapdragon the most compelling solution", rather than any concrete agreement between Microsoft and Qualcomm.

This is a lot bigger than it may seem at first. The fact that Qualcomm never had an exclusivity arrangement with Microsoft means earlier confirmation from ST-Ericsson of a dual-core Nokia phone powered by their chipsets is extremely likely to happen now. Some of you may ask, "then why is Nokia supposedly using Qualcomm in the Sea Ray?" We'd respond by telling you to read the article again, as ST-Ericsson said Nokia will be switching between them and Qualcomm for many of their devices.

We're at a loss for words. This really does change everything we expected from Nokia's upcoming hardware. Let's hope we hear more on August 17th.

Via: Electronista
Source: The Inquirer

Thought: Microsoft is going to lose this Fall (unless Nokia does something about it)

Outside of this wonderful Windows Phone bubble we live in, there's been a lot of talk about the prophesied iPhone 5 lately. Rumors have been flying left and right for the past two weeks with some saying the device will release in September while others are denying that and claiming October is the real timeframe. Then there's the discussion of Apple changing their strategy a bit to compete with Android's colossal rise. Most gossiping points towards Apple having three iPhones set to invade the mobile world -- a cheap version that wouldn't cost more than $299 off contract, an iPhone 4 injected with newer tech for the mid-range, and the iPhone 5 to compete at the high-end.

Not only will Apple suck the wind out of everyone by September/October, others are rushing to get their products out before then: RIM is making a comeback attempt with competitive BlackBerry OS 7 devices in late August, HP is pinning their hopes on the Pre 3 to make up for lost time with WebOS, and Google will likely launch their eagerly-anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich update for their phones and their tablets. With Mango (or 7.5) powered phones likely releasing in September, it's getting slotted in at a very competitive time in the smartphone world.

One thing is assured: Microsoft is screwed on its own.

Whatever the case, one thing is assured: Microsoft is screwed on its own. But there's one little thing that may just save them from the all-out war about to break out this holiday: Nokia. With rumors that the first Finnish Windows Phone could miss the first wave of Mango devices and instead debut later in Q4 2011, Nokia could have a prime opportunity to make a strong entry back onto the scene without any real competition surrounding it. For that to happen though, Nokia would have to do more than just a 'vanilla' Windows Phone handset.

While the manufacturer has proven time and again that it can excel in hardware design and build quality, they are competing in a very different market. As Stephen Elop said himself, "...there has been a shift from a battle of devices to a war of ecosystems." Unfortunately for them, Nokia must rely on Microsoft's current ecosystem which besides the overhauled Bing experience (one of our favorite things in Mango) hasn't seen much change since its launch.

Nokia needs to create a new defining characteristic in order to find a new audience.

Let's take a look at what other manufacturers are putting into their Windows Phones: Samsung has Super AMOLED and thin design, HTC has their WinMo/Android reputation and Sense (for better or worse), LG has their solid construction, and Dell has their left-field design. All of those things are what Nokia is good at and while some may argue a combination of all of these is enough, I would disagree. For Nokia to really be successful with their new devices, they needs to incorporate a signature Nokia experience. In other words, the company needs to create a new defining characteristic in order to find a new audience. Hardware alone isn't going to cut it this time.

So what will? That's the golden question and it's difficult for one person alone to answer. However Nokia plans to take on the field's stiffest competition, a warmed over N9 may not be enough.

Chances of Nokia announcing new hardware at GamesCom? "No dice."

Yesterday the image above from the::unwired began circling around the 'net and many speculated that the party the invitation was sent out for could be the official unveiling of Nokia's first Windows Phone. Well according to This is my next's Chris Ziegler, "no dice". So apparently this party was created with the intention of luring in potential developers of German heritage ahead of Mango's release and we've heard reports from other sources that this is true. Early speculation was that a new Nokia device would be shown off in an official capacity with some details, but now that does not appear to be the case.

However, Ziegler does mention that Nokia could still show its Sea Ray or tease another device to the public but seriously doubts any official details to go along with it (which is what we predicted as well). At least there's still a chance to see a future device in action, which is better than nothing, but what do you think?

Consolation prize! You now have a pretty strong answer for our (unfortunately-timed) poll!

Source: This is my next...

Weekly Poll: Are you expecting a Nokia Windows Phone on August 17th?

Last Week's Poll


Well it looks like Samsung has made a strong reputation with Windows Phone users and so the Galaxy S II copycat shown off at WPC 2011 just barely beat out the highly anticipated Nokia Sea Ray by only two votes. After that, the only love left over went to the trio of HTC phones with the monstrous Eternity leading ahead of its camera-lovin' and Mozart-sequelin' brothers.

This Week's Poll


Now we've decided as a consolation prize to Nokia's loss against Samsung (in more than just this poll) we're asking you if you really expect to see a Nokia device soon. News just broke a few hours ago that claims Nokia and Microsoft are holding a shindig at Germany's GamesCom 2011 and there's a decent chance a new phone will make at least a cameo. However there's a few holes we found in the story that aren't being filled. For one, why would they tease a new device at a video game convention? Don't get us wrong, we love shooting zombies and unleashing Hadoukens as much as the next guy, but for a smartphone unveiling it's more than just a little unorthodox. Besides that we've also had our hopes up on a Nokia Windows Phone being teased early before, but clearly those rumors didn't work out despite two separate sources claiming it would happen.

So we're pretty skeptical, but forget about us for now; what do you think? Will Nokia really show off a new device at GamesCom 2011 on August 17th or is everyone getting excited over nothing?

Rumor: Nokia Windows Phone to debut on August 17th?

Partaaay! According to an invitation received by the::unwired, Microsoft and Nokia are holding a little shindig at Germany's GamesCon 2011 on August 17th. Why is this worth noting? Well as a phone manufacturer, Nokia doesn't typically make the rounds at popular video gaming conventions so this is already quite unorthodox. Then there's the appearance of the (new) Windows Phone logo in the bottom-right corner next to the Nokia logo and the promise to raffle off three "Nokia with Windows Phone (as soon as available). Therefore this party could very well be our first 100% official look at an upcoming Nokia Windows Phone.

My theory? I don't think this is going to be a full official unveiling but instead a strategic hype-building event. They most likely will just show a public demo of a near-production device, give us a name and that's that. Of course this is all speculation and until those promised extra details emerge soon, we don't know what to expect two weeks from now.

Via: WMPU
Source: the::unwired

Nokia changes phone naming convention to numbers only, wants to spice up the relationship

When it comes to electronics in general, naming conventions and styles of each company can differ so greatly that figuring out exactly which one is what you want solely through its name is a nauseating challenge. Nokia attempted to simplify their previous naming conventions with a letter/numbers combination but the end result was much more confusing than intended, the best examples of it are the Nokia C7 and C7-01 which share a similar name but are completely different from one another.

Earlier this morning Nokia launched a new Symbian Anna powered device simply called the '500' (seen above) and as you may be able to tell, the manufacturer has decided on a new numbers-only system which it went on to explain in detail in a post to its Nokia Conversations blog. Nokia is using the numbers in a very linear way and promises that devices with higher numbers will be better devices than lower numbers; for example, the Nokia 900 will always be a superior device to the Nokia 700.

The reason all of this is pertinent to this site is because Nokia is most likely going to use this new naming scheme for its upcoming Windows Phones. That means the rumored W8 and W7 are probably not debuting with those names anymore and the Sea Ray will most likely not follow the N9 to logically become the W9. We have no idea what these will be called and we're unsure if Windows Phones are going to get mixed into the numbers without any sort of indication that it is not Symbian, but at least Nokia is trying to make things less complicated.

Source: Nokia Conversations

Analyst: Nokia "losing ground too fast", Windows Phone may not be enough

Let's clear up one thing right from the start: analysts are paid to tell you their opinions. Opinions aren't facts, they are, well, opinionated. However some analysts are wise and well-connected, so their personal takes on events or the market can prove to be useful and may shed more light on a subject than we knew. To that end, Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu has offered his thoughts on Nokia's future--specifically that they may not have one.

Just like many other corporations this week, Nokia revealed its Q2 earnings and the results were, frankly, bad. The company has dramatically lost a foothold in the smartphone market and even its once-dependable low-end devices aren't selling as well as they once used to. Ferragu warns that this kind of dramatic loss in market share may be extremely difficult to recover: "Nokia's brand is losing ground too fast". He also feels that the manufacturer's much discussed partnership with Microsoft is "unlikely to be successful" and that, "no third ecosystem will have a chance to emerge" against the combined Android and iOS assault.

Microsoft has to be commended for their extremely aggressive push to get Windows Phone into the market, but they're also relying heavily on Nokia's promise to ship devices in volume. With the manufacturer's performance quickly deteriorating and still no knowledge of when their first devices will be released, did Microsoft pick the wrong stablemate? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Via: SeattlePI
Source: AllThingsD

Rumor: Nokia W8 announcement today

This is...odd to say the least. Apparently the rumor mill is spinning wildly and spit out a juicy bit of gossip: Nokia might just announce the W8 Windows Phone...today. Today being July 21st overseas, coincides with the release of Nokia's quarterly financial report which many are assuming won't be good news. Rumor has it Nokia is announcing the W8 (which we've heard is going to be a redone N8) today in order to soften what could be a huge hit on its stock. This is all according to more than one Nokia insider, one being Eldar Murtazin and the other Daniel Galbinisteanu who explicitly says, "Nokia W8 to be officially announced tomorrow!" According to some of his other tweets, the specs will include the expected 1GHz processor and Carl Zeiss optics. However, he also noted that the W8 will not be Nokia's high-end Windows Phone. So what will? Presumably the Sea Ray, which is based on the N9 design.

This is still highly suspect for a few reasons: Nokia insiders have been wrong before, announcing a new product the same day as a quarterly financial report is unorthodox, and we've seen the Sea Ray in public way more often than the W8 which is still unconfirmed. Stay tuned because the next few hours could explode if this holds true.

Via: GSMDome, WMPU
Source: Twitter (@as21ro) (@eldarmurtazin)

Rumor: Nokia's first Windows Phones to run stock Mango, won't include integrated services?

As exciting as Nokia's first Windows Phone may be, there's no doubt the company had to make sacrifices to significantly speed up their development process. Now rumor has it Nokia's first Windows Phones may actually be running a completely stock build of Mango with almost zero customizations under the hood. Eldar Murtazin, the infamous Nokia insider and editor of Mobile-Review, recently went on local Finland station YLE and discussed what could be disappointing news about Nokia's upcoming smartphones:

It’s the same inside, it’s the same speed, the display is the same. There aren’t any differences. In practice we are getting exactly the same device.

We already know that in practice Nokia didn’t get anything at all. There is no chance of changing the display, they cannot add their own unique services. In practice Nokia’s Windows 7 phone is just Nokia’s own design. And that’s it.

Now this is definitely still a rumor as Murtazin has been proven wrong before. However, it's completely logical to assume that Nokia really may not have enough time to throw in their special sauce if they plan to meet their aggressive release dates. Take into account Nokia only official announced this deal in February, and if the first device is released to market by October they would have done so within only eight months which is absurdly fast for a phone's development cycle. We can still dream about what tweaks Nokia may include in the future, but for now don't expect to see them in the Sea Ray or any other soon-to-be-released devices.

Via: Nanapho.jp
Source: The Nokia Blog

New video of Nokia Sea Ray discovered, this time with buttons! (Update 3: Q logo revealed--Qualcomm!)

Ever since last week, Mango hardware has been quite the leaky faucet and a new look at the mother lode of all future Windows Phones just leaked onto the web. Yes, the video above shows a quick hands on of the Nokia Sea Ray in action and includes real Windows Phone buttons (no buttonless for you)  as well as a nice long look at it running honest-to-god Mango. Awesome. Better watch it while it's up because Nokia's lawyers could be all over this soon!

Here are some noteworthy points from watching the video:

• The phone appears to have been housed in a case similar to how the iPhone 4 was disguised as a 3GS before it looked. It looks like Nokia wasn't kidding when they mentioned "Apple-style" security.
• Capacitive buttons are definitely a go, so that earlier buttonless rumor was most likely fake. Only time will tell if the Swipe UI is going to make the cut or not.
• The phone boots up to a large new 7 logo before jumping into another odd screen which looked like it could have been a new bootup screen for Nokia (turned out to be a Qualcomm logo, see below) and then finally reveals the new Windows Phone Mango branding we spotted on other phones.
• The button layout appears to be the same as the N9, with the power button on the right side just beneath the volume rocker and above the camera shutter key.
• It's safe to say this prototype does not have a front-facing camera. It should have been in the bottom right corner and there also should have been a software button in the camera UI, but that may change in the future.

We'll post up some screenshots in a minute. We're also working on a YouTube upload for those weary of Youku's foreign flash player.

Update 1: Here are those promised still images, and boy does the Sea Ray look sweet.

Update 2: Embedded above is a copy of the video on YouTube. The original Youku video can be found embedded past the break.

Update 3: Well we now know what that mysterious 'q' logo was in the Sea Ray's boot screen--Qualcomm! This definitely means we'll be seeing some silicon from San Diego inside Nokia's first Windows Phone.

Via: WPCentral
Source: WPXAP

Nokia bringing along Swype for the Windows Phone ride?

Nokia's partnership with Microsoft has certainly shifted the landscape of how many view Windows Phone's future potential. So much so that Examiner has learned Swype is hoping it will bring about more flexibility in the platform to include its own custom keyboard software.

Since Nokia is an investor [in the company], Swype is hoping that it will land on some upcoming Windows Phone devices.

It's perfectly logical to think Windows Phone may eventually receive Swype, but the more tricky question is how. Do you want to see Swype in Windows Phone and if so, how should they implement it?

Via: WPCentral
Source: Examiner

More Windows Phone News from WPC 2011: 22,000 Apps, Mango plans and More

Microsoft's Worldwide Partners Conference this year held a lot more Windows Phone information than we had anticipated, but it is already July so it's about time for Microsoft to start the slick talk. Here's some quick factoids we learned from the Conference:

• The Windows Phone Marketplace has 22,000 apps by Microsoft's count although other sources have already pinned the Marketplace at 25,000. [via: Neowin]
• Microsoft's goals with Mango devices this Fall:
• "More than double the size" of devices in the market.
• To support "more countries" with services.
• "Decrease the phone prices in half" which could mean new midrange devices.
• To work closely with Nokia on their upcoming hardware.
• Why Windows Phone isn't Microsoft's tablet operating system:
• "We view a tablet as a sort of PC. We want people to be able to do the sort of things they do on a PC on a tablet. Things like networking...to get USB drives and pop them into their tablets. To be able to do things like printing...using Office. All of the things that you can do on a PC." [via: Business Insider]

Very interesting stuff indeed!

Nokia readying £80M 'repositioning' campaign for this Fall, aims to avoid hearing "Nokia sells Mangoes now?"

Eager to get your grubby hands on a Nokia Windows Phone? We are too, but how many people outside of the Windows Phone faithful are genuinely excited too? Something tells us not many and that's probably due to a combination of factors including Nokia's iffy software on its phones, weak United States relations, and overall recognition deterioration as a brand. We've already heard about those first two and how the company plans to do all of their homework before launching, and now we're learning about the latter. Marketing Magazine spilled the beans on the company's plans and they seem appropriate for how big Windows Phone may get this Fall. With a nice £80M chunk of financing, Nokia is set to kick off a six-month advertising campaign beginning in October in the hopes of "repositioning" its brand in the eyes of consumers.

This was a bit obvious of a move as Stephen Elop has made it loud and clear the Nokia brand was under assault, but it's still reassuring to know the company is ready to commit to Windows Phone by spreading the word. We'll see by Nokia World 2011 just how ready the company will be for this Fall.

Via: MobileTechWorld
Source: Marketing Magazine

Nokia will support N9 alongside Windows Phones "for years"

We've thought a lot about how the N9 fits in with the Sea Ray and the rest of the Nokia puzzle, and each time we've wondered why they had even bothered to announce it in the first place. It appears things are becoming clearer now and prospective buyers of a modern Nokia smartphone might have something to look forward to if uninterested in the company's bid with Microsoft. The manufacturer's own Klas Ström, head of portfolio management in marketing, mentioned via Twitter that Nokia would support their zombified mobile operating system, "for years AND release several SW (software) updates".

As confusing as this may appear, one has to remember just how ambitious MeeGo was for the company. It promised to be a truly modern OS that would still pave a path for their current Symbian developers to transition to. When the Microsoft partnership was announced, all of that seemingly went away and a big chunk of the Nokia faithful were left conflicted. We're curious to if Nokia really can support both its own MeeGo operating system as well as its duties with Windows Phone, but if we get to keep seeing hardware like the N9 and the Sea Ray we're not going to complain!

Via: Engadget Mobile
Source: Twitter (@klasstrom)