Nokia to use Microsoft’s music formats on its handsets
Monday, February 14, 2005 - 11:34 PM EST"Nokia and Microsoft, which have a history as rivals, have decided to work together when it comes to mobile music. Nokia, the leading cellphone manufacturer and a longtime Microsoft competitor in mobile phone software, said Monday that it had agreed to use Microsoft's music formats on its handsets," Victoria Shannon reports for The International Herald Tribune.
"At the moment, digital music is largely carried on portable players that are intended strictly for music, like the iPod made by Apple Computer. But hardware, software, music and phone companies agree that there is a mass market - particularly among young people - for music on demand that is sent over the air to cellphones," Shannon reports. "The companies made their announcements at the 3GSMWorld Congress, a cellphone trade show here... Until now, Nokia has been using an internally developed program or music software made by RealNetworks."
"Nokia [and] Microsoft... are among those trying to horn in on Apple's success with the iPod, which works with Apple's iTunes software. A Motorola cellphone with iTunes is planned for the spring," Shannon reports. "Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of Windows Digital Media, said Nokia and Microsoft had begun discussions on the mobile music deal about four months ago. Nokia said the cooperation had come out of long-term work by both companies on industry forums to widen the use of open standards. Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia executive vice president for multimedia, said the agreement on music software could lead to future partnerships."
Full article here.
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'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'
Not when it's the Redmond beast.
I hope Nokia wrote a 'weasel clause' into that contract they signed with Microsoft. They'll need to use it after they realize what they've gotten themselves into.