Nokia has been sending out invites to US journalists to attend a product launch of September 5, just a week out from the rumoured iPhone 5 unveiling. The invite appears to be a joint Nokia-Microsoft announcement, which means it will almost certainly relate to Windows Phone 8.
The rumour mill is suggesting that Apple is looking at unveiling its iPhone 5 on September 12, with a launch date just a few weeks later. Apple’s iPhone sales have been poor over the last quarter as users wait to upgrade to the new device, which is expected to be a generational step change, complete with a new version of iOS.
The new Nokia Lumia range is a key launch for Nokia, which ditched its proprietary Symbian smartphone OS to join Microsoft’s Windows Phone team – but failed to see any traction in the marketplace against Samsung’s Google Android and Apple’s iPhone devices.
Windows Phone 8 is expected to be a key generational step for both Microsoft and Nokia, and will integrate tightly with its Windows 8/Windows RT software which launches on October 26. Microsoft has also attempted to bring back partners such as HTC and Samsung, who showed little interest in Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft especially is determined to stay relevant in the smartphone world and has controversially cut off older Windows Phone devices, including Nokia’s, from running the new software. This means any consumers that bought Nokia Lumia devices after the Christmas launch last year will be cut off from the new OS – unusual in smartphone circles, where phones such as the iPhone 3GS (now three years old) can run the latest software (albeit, poorly).
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