Microsoft, Nokia and Qt

rrs@researchut.com (Ritesh Raj Sarraf) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:08:57 -0500

Nokia has [announced](http://blog.qt.nokia.com/2011/03/07/nokia-and-digia- working-together/) that it is selling off its Qt business. This needed to happen given the change in the company’s strategy. Microsoft is a software vendor providing Mobile OS, with Nokia being one of its consumers. For Nokia, to have a tier 1 alliance with Microsoft, it would have been important for the company to show positive gesture. With this move, Microsoft and Nokia will strengthen their partnership. This move will focus on tighter integration in between the 2 company’s portfolios.

Nokia mentioned in the announcement that it’d further continue Qt core development. I don’t see what value that has to bring to the company. It either has to do with the company making some money with whatever IP it acquired in Trolltech, or else, it’d be just a phased wise approach in selling off the Qt business. Also it could be Nokia’s Plan B , in case the Micro-Noki team fails to build the ecosystem that it is aspiring for.

As for Qt, we’ll have to see. Given that it is GPL, we don’t have too much to worry (hopefully).

Microsoft on RESEARCHUT

Microsoft, Nokia and Qt