Nokia Windows Phone 8 Smartphone Coming Next Month – Report

Nokia is set to announce its first smartphone running Windows Phone 8 at its Nokia world event next month at Helsinki, according to a report.

Someone with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg that the device would be revealed ahead of the possible launch of the Apple iPhone 5 on 12 September.

Nokia Windows Phone 8

The launch of smartphones running the latest version of the Windows Phone platform is seen as vital for Nokia, which has struggled to remain relevant in the smartphone market in recent years. The Finnish manufacturer has lost more than 90 percent of its market share since the original iPhone was launched in 2007.

In an effort to reverse its fortunes, it agreed a strategic partnership with Microsoft last year to produce devices running Windows Phone and released its first, the Lumia 800, in late 2011.

Nokia announced massive losses of £1.1 billion in its results last month and said restructuring would continue. However, it has sold more than four million Lumia smartphones since it introduced the range and developers remain optimistic about the chances of Nokia and Microsoft succeeding with Windows Phone 8.

Nokia has even reportedly entertained the idea of releasing its upcoming smartphone exclusively on one network in an effort to replicate the excitement generated by Apple, who signed a similar agreement with some operators for the original iPhone.

Windows Phone 8 was revealed in June this year and is based on its upcoming desktop and tablet operating system, Windows 8. However, it is incompatible with current generation Windows Phones.

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