Microsoft, Nokia plan August 17 event for Windows Phone
updated 06:00 pm EDT, Mon August 1, 2011
Nokia and Microsoft to hold event at GamesCom
Nokia and Microsoft have sent out invitations for a special event that could be the venue for the introduction of Nokia's first Windows phone. The August 17 gathering at Cologne's GamesCom expo is cast as a "Nokia & Microsoft party" with live music. It would also pack "exciting actions and surprises," according to The Unwired's copy, hinting that there may be an unveiling.
The company isn't necessarily expected to be part of the first wave of Windows Phones and might not ship until October or later and could miss the expected September launch for most. As such, August might be too early. Nokia's size and scale could still dictate an early announcement, as it often needs to cue up releases earlier than others.
Sea Ray, if it becomes Nokia's first WP7 phone is expected to be a close relative of the N9 with the same very thin design, just adding the necessary physical navigation buttons for Microsoft's OS. It's poised to have a second-generation Snapdragon processor and an eight-megapixel camera along with what may be the N9's 3.9-inch curved AMOLED screen.
