broad strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem

in effect stating that new Nokia smartphones will run on the Windows Phone 7 operating platform and not the Symbian or MeeGo platforms Nokia have been favouring to date.

Have Nokia jumped out of the frying pan into the fire? The Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop refered to Nokia standing on a “burning platform” only days ago and indeed Nokia’s share of the smartphone market fell from 38% to 28% in 2010, according to monitoring firm IDC.

But the Microsoft platform was the worst performing in a similar period. So can a meeting of these two companies produce a product to rival Google Android and Apple iPhone?

There are no product announcements to coincide with this news, so consumers will have to wait and see what new devices will be brought to market this year.

Here is a bit more from the press release:

There are other mobile ecosystems. We will disrupt them.

There will be challenges. We will overcome them.

Success requires speed. We will be swift.

Will they be swift enough though?

Over at Engadget, new photos of the likely candidate show a device that could form part of the new Xperia range, expected to be announced by Sony Ericsson on 13 February, with names such as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play or Zeus Z1 being suggested.

The photo shows the familiar Playstation buttons on an Xperia based frame, with a 4.1 inch screen, running the Android OS.

With Microsoft integrating Xbox gaming into the new Windows Mobile OS, Sony must be keen to launch a handset that allows dedicated gamers to stay on brand.

Apple follow-up in fourth, followed by Research in Motion with their Blackberry brand. This however disguises the fact that Asian companies made up a third of worldwide handset sales in July, August and September 2010 increasing this trend away from the big established companies.

But with 417 million phones sold globally during the same period (up 35% from the year before), all major manufacturers lost market share, with the exception of Apple which jumped on place to sit above RIM.

Another trend shows that 25% of phones were run by Google’s Android compared to only 3.5% last year.

Orange, that well-known purveyor of mobile phones is about to launch the second great internet balloon race (the first was in 2008) and it is open to anyone with an internet connection.

Head on over to the ballonacy site before the race starts on 8th November and choose your balloon, then race it across the internet.You may even fly over CameraPhoneReview (and if you do, stop in and leave a comment to say hi!)

Starring Dev Patel, Pamela Anderson, Charles Dance and Ed Westwick this seven and a half-minute long film is shot entirely using the Nokia N8.

Showing off the 12 megapixel camera and 720p HD, the commuter does not look half bad and begs the question – “What can you film on your N8?”

As we reported, the new Exmor sensors are not due for commercial release until the early part of next year, so the phone will be along about the same time, and although it is unlikely to hit other countries in this form, will show what the future standard for mobile camera phones will be.

As well as 16 megapixels (25% more than in the recently launched Nokia N8), there will be ISO settings up to ISO 12800, and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor with 3.3 inch screen, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.

First Seen

Now Blackberry are mainstream and are appealing to markets far beyond that original email orientated business market.

The Blackberry Torch still does email very well, but it has a lot more to offer.

First up is the 5 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom, flash, continuous autofocus and 11 preset image settings. There is also the ability to shoot video clips. The 3.2″ HVGA+ 480×360 pixel colour display has touch screen capabilities with pinch to zoom effects.

There is a full-featured music player which shows full album art and track listings in portrait or landscape mode and full social network integration with apps available for sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Under the screen is a full key keypad for complete messaging Bliss and for those on the go, expect the battery to give you 5.8 hours of talk time, 30 hours of music player or 6 hours of video playback. With WiFi, Bluetooth, 512 MB built-in memory and 8GB storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD cards) the Blackberry Torch provides a phone that caters for both work and play.

With the ability to access Xbox Live, with its host of console-quality
games & leading titles and keep the same profile as on your XBox® console this phone should appeal to ardent games players.

There is a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, which not as high-resolution as the HTC Windows phones still shoots 720p HD video with the ability to watch them on the 3.8 inch TFT capacitive touch screen or to a DLNA DMR enabled device, wirelessly transfer video, photos and music via WiFi.

There is 16GB of memory for storage,FM radio, GPS, Bluetooth and accelerometer, 3.5 mm audio jack and micro-USB connector.

Social networking integration comes as standard, with a voice-to-text facility that allows you to talk your Tweets, and being Microsoft powered, has full Outlook integration. One common feature of the new Windows Phone 7 mobiles is the 3 button layout at the base of the handset (Back, Start, Search) and the somewhat forced integration to Microsoft services, like the Bing search. Whilst this is little different to Google and their Android platform, it is unlikely to appeal to die-hard Apple fans, but Microsoft are probably realistic about this and will be happy just to recover some of the market share.

Other features include webTV, a music player and FM radio and integrated social media applications on the customisable homescreen.

If you are searching for a feature packed phone at the lower end of the cost scale, but with a high megapixel camera consider the Nokia C6.

Wi-fi and 3G technology on the inside and a brushed metallic exterior include a 3.2” TFT screen , with 480×800 (WVGA) resolution and 16.7 million colours.

Operating on Android, the Leo has a full touch screen and features like pinch to resize and rotate images and includes social networking and email integration. Fast internet with HSPA (HSDPA 7.2Mbps & HSUPA 5.76Mbps) to complete the package.

Expected to be in certain markets next month, the Altek Leo looks to raise the bar on the camera side and with Android built-in should provide a stable phone experience as well.