Updated: July 10, 2020 (February 21, 2005)

  Analyst Report

Nokia, Microsoft Sign Digital Music Deal

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

745 wordsTime to read: 4 min

Leading cell phone maker Nokia will support selected Windows Media technologies in some future handsets. In exchange, Microsoft will enable the Windows Media Player on the PC to support digital media technologies and music stores favored by Nokia. The agreement shows Microsoft’s willingness to support alternative digital media platforms if necessary to reach larger goals: in this case, adding a very popular brand of portable device—Nokia cell phones—to the list of devices that can connect to a PC-based digital media “hub.”

Moving in on RealNetworks

Although fierce competitors in the market for mobile phone platform software, Microsoft and Nokia announced two joint initiatives—one related to digital media and one regarding Exchange—at the Feb. 2005 3GSM World Congress, an annual conference for the wireless phone industry. (For details on the Exchange agreement, see “Wireless Exchange Sync Broadens“.

Later in 2005, Nokia will introduce new handsets that support the following Microsoft technologies:

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