A low cost Windows Phone 7 device from Nokia could be here sooner than we think, according to the Finnish firm's chief executive (CEO).
Rumours of when the first handset release will come from the tie-up between Nokia and Microsoft have been rife. But Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia, told journalists from Finland a budget handset would not be long in the making.
"We have become convinced that we can do that very quickly," Reuters reported him saying.
However, a date has still yet to be confirmed and the week since the announcement has been filled with contradictory stories.
At Nokia's press conference during Mobile World Congress 2011, the senior vice president (SVP) of smart devices, Jo Harlow, claimed a handset would be out by the end of the year.
"We have had teams working together to solidify the timing of the first Windows Phone product," she said, "but my boss has told me that he would be much happier if that was in 2011 Boss, I aim to please."
Yet, four days later, Nokia board chairman Jorma Ollila said we would have to wait until 2012 before the debut handset was launched.
Nokia confirmed it would be using Windows Phone 7 as its primary mobile operating system going forward in an announcement just over a week ago.
This leaves its previous OS, Symbian, out in the cold to become a "franchise platform."
