11th Feb 2011 06:30
Nokia / Miscellaneous 11.02.2011 08:30 Dissemination of a UK Regulatory Announcement, transmitted byDGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Companies plan to combine assets and develop innovative mobile products on anunprecedented scale Nokia CorporationStock exchange releaseFebruary 11, 2011 at 9.30 (CET +1) London, Feb. 11, 2011 - Nokia and Microsoft today announced plans to form abroad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths andexpertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem. Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products andservices designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalledchoice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies,the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to marketexecution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integratekey assets and create completely new service offerings, while extendingestablished products and services to new markets. Under 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 amarket leader. - Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contributeits expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring WindowsPhone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies. - Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiativesand a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobileproducts. - 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 ofdevices and services. - Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft's mapping services. Forexample, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft's Bing search engine andadCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertisingexperience - Nokia's extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier forconsumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries wherecredit-card use is low. - Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run onNokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem'sglobal reach. - Nokia's content and application store would be integrated with MicrosoftMarketplace for a more compelling consumer experience. 'Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products,which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications andcustomer support that make a great experience,' Stephen Elop, Nokia Presidentand CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. 'Nokia and Microsoft willcombine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach andscale. It's now a three-horse race.' 'I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,' said Steven A. Ballmer,Microsoft CEO. 'Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale.The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise inhardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.' Please visit www.nokia.com/press for press materials. About NokiaAt Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technologywith personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters tothem. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with aNokia device - from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performancemobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovativeservices through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email andmore. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping andnavigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, servicesand solutions for communications networks globally. DISCLAIMERNokia and Microsoft have entered into a non-binding term sheet. The plannedpartnership remains subject to negotiations and execution of the definitiveagreements by the parties and there can be no assurances that the definitiveagreements would be entered into. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSIt should be noted that certain statements herein which are not historicalfacts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, thoseregarding: A) the intention to form a strategic partnership with Microsoft tocombine complementary assets and expertise to form a global mobile ecosystemand to adopt Windows Phone as our primary smartphone platform, including theexpected plans and benefits of such partnership; B) the timing and expectedbenefits of our new strategy, including expected operational and financialbenefits and targets as well as changes in leadership and operation structure;C) the timing of the deliveries of our products and services and theircombinations; D) our ability to develop, implement and commercialize newtechnologies, products and services and their combinations; E) expectationsregarding market developments and structural changes; F) expectations andtargets regarding our industry volumes, market share, prices, net sales andmargins of products and services; G) expectations and targets regarding ouroperational priorities and results of operations; H) the outcome of pending andthreatened litigation; I) expectations regarding the successful completion ofacquisitions or restructurings on a timely basis and our ability to achieve thefinancial and operational targets set in connection with any such acquisitionor restructuring; and J) statements preceded by 'believe,' 'expect,''anticipate,' 'foresee,' 'target,' 'estimate,' 'designed,' 'plans,' 'will' orsimilar expressions. These statements are based on management's bestassumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it.Because they involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differmaterially from the results that we currently expect. Factors that could causethese differences include, but are not limited to: 1) whether definitiveagreements can be entered into with Microsoft for the potential partnership ina timely manner, or at all, and on terms beneficial to us; 2) our ability tocontinue to innovate and maintain the vibrancy of our Symbian-based smartphonesduring the negotiation of the Microsoft partnership and thereafter; 3) thenegotiation and implementation of the Microsoft partnership will requiresignificant time, attention and resources of our senior management and otherswithin the company potentially diverting their attention from other aspects ofour business; 4) in choosing to negotiate a partnership with Microsoft andutilize Windows Phone as our primary smartphone platform, we may forego morecompetitive alternatives achieving greater acceptance and profitability in thesmartphone market; 5) the Microsoft Windows Phone smartphone platform may notbe preferred by application developers, content providers and other partnersimpairing our ability to build a sufficiently competitive ecosystem for oursmartphones; 6) the Microsoft partnership may not achieve the stated goal ofproducing smartphones which are differentiated from those of our competitorsand preferred by our customers and consumers in the expected timeframe, or atall; 7) our ability to change our business model, way of working and culturesufficiently to work effectively and efficiently with Microsoft in order torealize the stated benefits of the partnership in a timely manner, or at all;8) our ability to effectively and smoothly implement our new leadership andoperational structure and to realize the anticipated benefits in a timelymanner; 9) the implementation of the Microsoft partnership and the newoperational structure may cause disruption and dissatisfaction among employeespotentially reducing focus and productivity in some or all areas of ourbusiness; as well as the risk factors specified on pages 11-32 of Nokia'sannual report Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009 under Item 3D.'Risk Factors.' Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlyingassumptions subsequently proving to be incorrect could cause actual results todiffer materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Nokia does notundertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-lookingstatements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,except to the extent legally required. Media Enquiries: NokiaCommunicationsTel. +358 7180 34900Email: [email protected] www.nokia.comNews Source: NASDAQ OMX 11.02.2011 DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: EnglishCompany: Nokia FinlandPhone: Fax: E-mail: Internet: ISIN: FI0009000681Category Code: MSCLSE Ticker: 0HAFSequence Number: 681Time of Receipt: Feb 11, 2011 08:30:03 End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------UK-Regulatory-announcement transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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