Motorola goes Microsoft? Motorola sells Symbian shares

[Guest smartphone-web.com]

Reuters:

HELSINKI, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The world's largest mobile phone maker Nokia said on Friday it and Britain's Psion were in talks with U.S. Motorola to buy the latter's stake in mobile software consortium Symbian.

Nokia said talks were expected to be completed in the coming weeks. If a deal is done, Nokia's stake in Symbian would rise to some 32 percent from a current level of around 19 percent, and Psion's stake would climb to 31 percent.

Nokia said the deal valued Symbian at 300 million pounds ($471 million), meaning it would pay some 39 million to raise its stake. A spokesman said Motorola had initiated the talks.

[Guest kyrkesmith]

It would be great if Motorola did move to Microsoft and abandon Symbian totally, but it will probably end up with Motorola using mainly Symbian, with a couple of MS Smartphones.

I've always disliked Motorola phones, but that's really been due to their OS.

[Guest chucky.egg]

It would be great if Motorola did move to Microsoft and abandon Symbian totally

Why do you say that? Symbian is a good OS - S60 is simple enough for my mum to use, and UIQ is flexible enough to support good apps (a few exceptions!)

The only thing that will drive MS to improve Smartphone is competition, and Symbian is their competition right now, so I say "long live Symbian"

[Guest kyrkesmith]

An operator with one single operating system inevitably produces a greater range of devices for that operating system than if it has a range of operating systems.

Yes, it's important for Symbian to remain around to give Microsoft some competition, but then again, if Microsoft gain no ground on Symbian there is every possibility that they will abandon the platform. Microsoft just aren't used to being a minor player.

[Guest morpheus2702]

Given that we are living in the post 911 world now, maybe there is an element of American companies sticking together?

Strategically, MS need Motorola on their side. No disrespect to HTC but Smartphone will only prosper with a heavy hitter like Motorola.

Apart from Nokia and Psion, are the main partners in Symbian (Sony) Ericsson and Siemens?

[Guest dewslat]

Ya, i think that it would make a great team since motorola is much more establish in the US than in Euro and Asia.. Its like Microsoft and IBM in the old times.. Its actually just a beggining of this Symbian/Smartphone war.. :)

[Guest morpheus2702]

(Yoda voice) 'The shroud of the dark side has fallen... begun this smartphone war has' :)

[Guest mcwarre]

(Yoda voice) 'The shroud of the dark side has fallen... begun this smartphone war has'  :)

LMFAO