Verizon Wireless plans to sell a new Nokia Windows 8 phone this year, reports Bloomberg.
Microsoft and Nokia are holding a press conference on Sept. 5 in New York to discuss Nokia’s Lumia brand of Windows phones. While Verizon isn’t expected to be part of that event, the carrier intends to roll out a Nokia phone later. That would give Nokia a new beachhead at the top U.S. carrier, building on its longstanding relationship with No. 2 AT&T.
Yankee Group analyst Katie Lewis opines:
“Mobile operators are sick of taking orders from Apple…iPhones are occupying an increasingly dangerous share of mobile operators’ smartphone sales…The success of the third mobile ecosystem [Windows Phone] would put control over the U.S. smartphone market back into the hands of mobile operators — backing Windows Phone is AT&T and Verizon’s chosen method of self-preservation.”
For Microsoft and Nokia, the move should help it regain market share. The Nokia phone would also provide fresh ammunition against the latest iPhone, which people familiar with the matter expect to be introduced on Sept. 12.
