The epic rivalry between Microsoft
Yesterday Intel, cell-phone maker Nokia
To combat the looming Microsoft menace, the new Intel-Nokia-Symbian triumvirate will work cooperatively. Intel will make the chips, Symbian will write the code, and Nokia will assemble and package it in a fashionable shell. What's it all mean for investors? Several possibilities come to mind.
First, recall that Nokia is the leader in smartphone sales, and roughly 80% of all smartphones on the market run on Symbian software. Adding an ally of Intel's heft to this dominant duo should significantly hinder competitors' ability to steal market share from either Nokia or Symbian. At the same time, it assists Intel's bid to gain a foothold in this market. On the other hand -- the receiving end of this news -- are companies such as Texas Instruments
Put simply, the Intel-Nokia-Symbian alliance is going to be much stronger than the sum of its parts. Today was not an especially good day for the new triumvirate's competitors.
For Foolish coverage of Symbian, read:
- Nokia Settles Symbian Saga
- Ericsson Calls Nokia's Bluff
- Nokia's Drama Queen
- Nokia's Foiled Power Play?
- Nokia's Symbian Gambit
Fool contributor Rich Smith owns shares of Nokia.