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Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack of Windows Phone updates, apps

Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack of Windows Phone updates, apps

By Anupam Saxena | Updated: 29 July 2013 16:17 IST

It looks like Nokia has finally come out in the open against Microsoft's slow pace of pushing updates to Windows Phone 8.

While the Finnish handset giant has been churning out new handset models and updated versions of its own services and apps, Microsoft has often been criticised for not playing a very conducive role when it comes to bringing its mobile OS on par with Android and iOS.

Till now, tech evangelists and Nokia fans had been panning Microsoft for ignoring the Windows Phone 8 platform, however, it now seems that Nokia also wants Microsoft to get out of its slumber.

In a recent interview with International Business Times, Bryan Biniak, Vice President - App Development at Nokia, has fired salvos at Microsoft, subtly conveying the message that smartphone sales are suffering due to lack of updates.

He said, "We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today."

Biniak also talked about the problem related to lack of apps, and how it's affecting the consumer's perception against Nokia's Lumia smartphones.

"We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale," he added.

"To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices."

While the Windows Phone platforms boasts of 165,000 apps, a number of major apps including Instagram are missing form the platform. New releases and variants of popular games like Angry Birds and Temple Run also arrive on Windows Phone, months or sometimes years after they release their iOS and Android versions.

A lot of software development on the Windows Phone platform is being supported by Nokia, with the company developing its own imaging software for its camera-focused offerings.

Nokia says it will continue to invest in the platform's development on its own.

"As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right," said Biniak.

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