Nokia says Microsoft software deal will be “concluded well on schedule”

Even though the Nokia/Microsoft partnership was announced at the beginning of February, a software deal has yet to be finalised.

With Nokia CEO Stephen Elop saying a deal would take months to conclude, the world’s biggest mobile manufacturer has stated that negotiations with Microsoft are still on schedule and Nokia Windows Phone devices are still on track for an early 2012 release.

Kai Oistamo, head of corporate development at Nokia said today:

“Negotiations have progressed very well. They will be concluded well on schedule.”

With a non-binding agreement signed months previous, analysts will be quick to judge Nokia’s future performance based on the speed at which it can design and release new Windows Phone 7 handsets.

With a deal signed, Nokia and Microsoft will be able to forge ahead with developments, providing the Finnish manufacturer with what it thinks will be the way back into the North American smartphone market.