Home
News
You are here

MSNerd confirms all Windows Phones getting Apollo, Nokia in charge of most things chipset and camera

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Mar 22, 2012, 6:43 AM

MSNerd confirms all Windows Phones getting Apollo, Nokia in charge of most things chipset and camera

MSNerd, who's had many a spot-on leaks about Microsoft's plans before, despite not being an employee, confirmed once again that WP 8 aka Apollo, will be coming to each and every handset.

Microsoft is supposedly aiming for a Mango-like release across the board, but some of Apollo's features will be exclusive to the third generation Windows Phones, which will be mostly built around Qualcomm's MSM8960 multicore LTE platofrm. Not that we expected the 1st gen to all of a sudden start capturing 1080p video after the update, but it's reassuring that everyone will be getting their taste of Apollo in some way.

MSNerd also hinted that in the US carriers are the biggest obstacles to quick and all-encompassing mobile OS upgrades, something that doesn't surprise us, as we've heard it so many times from Android makers as well.

Amidst the treasure trove of information that MSNerd is divulging in his ongoing Q&A session on Reddit we encountered this little gem about Nokia's ever-growing role in Microsoft's next mobile OS version work:

[–]tomassplatch 1 point 2 days ago

are there any plans of making the WP more "open" in Apollo? Like enabling USB connection, using it with Linux, more personnalisation (setting default apps)? Do you have any information on this? What is Nokia's role in designing the WP8?

[–]MSnerd[S] 1 point 1 day ago

Yes. For instance, WP becomes a "true Microsoft platform", like the Xbox & WoA(8) & you'll see Windows Phone Companion in lieu of Zune desktop client.

Nokia's role is in defining chipset support (beyond Qualcomm), designing the camera-to-software interaction model, antenna & battery design, languages & regional services, etc.

So these might be valid rumors that Nokia might use chipsets other than Snapdragon for its upcoming Windows Phones, and that it will be put in charge of the things it does better than Microsoft with phones, like the camera modules interface, antenna design and regional customization.

Turns out we might indeed see the PureView Pro camera technology in a Windows Phone reincarnation, after all, just as Nokia hinted last month at the MWC expo.

source: MSNerd (Reddit) via WMPU

$20 /mo

$25

$5 off (20%)

Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.

Buy at Visible

View Full Bio

Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.