Apr 21, 2011 11:24 GMT  ·  By
Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation and Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft
   Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation and Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft

Two months after announcing their anti-Apple / Google partnership, Microsoft and Nokia reveal that the alliance is moving to the next stage at an accelerated pace by inking a definitive agreement ahead of schedule. However, both the mobile and the software giants need to do more than just cross fingers and hope speed is the norm that will govern their alliance, and not the exception.

With the portfolio of new Windows Phone Devices from Nokia that the duo is talking about hitting the market by the end of 2011, the two companies have a fighting chance.

Delivering next generation Windows Phone Nokia devices in 2012 is not a move that either of the two giants can afford. It would only perpetuate the view that either together or apart, the companies are too slow and lacking in the coordination and adroitness necessary to grow faster than the competition.

In a joint announcement, Kai Oistamo, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Nokia & Andy Lees, President, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft are touting excellent progress since February 2011, when the partnership was unveiled.

“We’ve aligned our teams and assets, and clearly see the potential to change the way people use their mobile devices for the better,” the two stated.

“Hundreds of our team members are already working together toward a multi-year product roadmap and are on-schedule to deliver volume shipments in 2012 although the pressure is on for first delivery in 2011.

“In the coming years we will aggressively work to take Nokia products using Windows Phone to new geographies, at new price points and sharing new experiences for customers around the world to enjoy.”

While it’s critical to have a strategy spanning years into the future, the two should not lose sight of short-term goals.

If the duo wants to prove that a new Microsoft and a new Nokia are taking on rivals by underpromising and overdelivering then they shouldn’t act like the old Microsoft and old Nokia, should they?

This means that it would be best for Windows Phone Nokia handsets to hit store shelves when they haven’t already been surpassed in terms of the hardware and platform innovation by rival devices.

"Our agreement is good for the industry,” Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, Nokia and Microsoft will innovate with greater speed, and provide enhanced opportunities for consumers and our partners to share in the success of our ecosystem.”

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