Nokia Plans 300 Media Apps For Windows PhoneNokia Plans 300 Media Apps For Windows Phone

7 Hottest Features In Windows Phone 7 Mango

Nokia has inked a deal with a Canadian developer to produce more than 300 media applications for its upcoming Windows Phone offerings, as well as for its existing line of Symbian and MeeGo-based smartphones.

Under the deal, Toronto's Polar Mobile will build apps that format content from a number of international publishers for display on Nokia's various platforms. Content providers involved in the deal include WiredUK, Kompass, Advertising Age, The Globe and Mail, Shanghai Daily, and 7DAYS.

"Nokia is excited about the opportunity to team up with Polar Mobile to bring hundreds of quality apps to consumers around the world," said Richard White, general manager for Nokia Canada, in a statement. "Polar Mobile's ability to scale and attract a global set of brands is strategic in supporting Nokia's efforts in offering compelling apps and experiences for our users."

Polar Mobile uses Nokia's cross-platform Qt development framework to help publishers produce mobile versions of their content for Nokia platforms. It's one of the technologies that Microsoft is hoping will incent major content providers to include Windows Phone in their mobile strategies once Nokia-branded Windows Phone 7 devices become available--most likely in the first half of next year.

Application choice could make or break Windows Phone. Microsoft claimed there were about 9,000 apps available for the OS as of March. By contrast, the number of apps available for Apple's iPhone and Google Android devices is well into the six figures.

Under a deal reached earlier this year, Nokia agreed to use Windows Phone 7 as the exclusive operating system for its U.S. products. The Finnish phone maker also will offer Windows Phone-based devices in a number of other international markets.

What's not clear is how long the company plans to continue offering products based on other operating systems. Symbian's share of the global mobile OS market is slipping, and Nokia recently sold off future support and development rights to the platform to Accenture. MeeGo is a joint effort between Nokia and Intel, and runs Nokia's slick new N9 smartphone.

Nokia shares were flat at $6.07 in early trading Wednesday.

Read our new report, State Of The IT Service Desk: Change Management Remains Key. Download the report now. (Free registration required.)