Despite Rumors, Nokia Is Not Switching to Android

Recently, there was speculation that Nokia was considering giving up on Microsoft's Windows Phone and switching to Android. A company exec has pulled the rug out from under the basis for this rumor.

What set off the discussion was a job posting from Nokia looking for an expert in "embedded Linux device software and hardware drivers for our exciting new products." As Android is a Linux-based operating system, some jumped to the conclusion that Nokia was considering making smartphones running this operating system.

This would be a major change, as Nokia and Microsoft have built a partnership for creating devices running Windows Phone. However, sales of their first and second-generation models have yet to take off, so it's not completely unreasonable to consider that Nokia could be considering a change to a different OS. 

However, a Nokia spokesperson threw cold water on this theory this morning by posting "Our recently posted job is linked to our HERE Maps support for other platforms, including iOS and Android." HERE is the new name for Nokia's navigation software, which recently launched for the iPhone

Source: BrightHand

Read more »

Nokia attempts to block BlackBerry sales after patent dispute

Nokia has won a patent dispute with RIM over the inclusion of WLAN technology in its BlackBerry handsets, and has asked for a sales ban in the UK, US and Canada

The Finnish company made the disclosure by submitting a US court filing that asked for enforcement of the earlier ruling that RIM infringed on a Nokia patent by including WLAN in its BlackBerry handsets.

According to Nokia the ruling was that RIM could not manufacture or sell any WLAN product without paying royalties first, and so it has filed cases in the US, Canada and the UK to have the ruling enforced - which could mean a sales ban on BlackBerry handsets.

It has to be said the squabble comes at a remarkably bad time for both companies. Nokia is struggling to capture a foothold in the smartphone market, despite recent releases in the form of the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820.

Meanwhile BlackBerry continues to lose ground to the likes of Apple and Samsung, and is heavily relying on the new BlackBerry 10 operating system that was originally slated to appear this autumn but has been pushed back to early next year.

So far RIM has yet to comment on the ruling but has said that it will respond to Nokia in time. Whether a royalty agreement will be reached by the two companies remains to be seen.

Read more »