One of the world’s largest cellphone maker, Nokia, has teamed up with the world’s largest operating systems creator, Microsoft. Their goal was to create a new smart phone that would usher both companies into a new age. Prior to the partnership, both companies recognized that they were stagnant giants. This project attempted to give Nokia and Microsoft a new edge in the market place. They came up with the Lumia 900, but does it really offer a challenge to the iPhone?

Starting at 99.99, the Lumia 900 is priced appropriately. It’s cheaper than the iPhone, which is key since everything is worth what the purchaser will pay. And people won’t pay much for an untested item. Its sleek design is large but comfortable, allowing more battery space and screen. Windows operates well on this phone. It carries all the standard features such as GPS and Wi-Fi. Where it falls flat is in the apps department. Apple has a huge advantage in this arena. Microsoft has even resorted to paying up to 600,000 dollars for popular app developers to make their programs compatible with Windows. For its long term health, the Lumia 900 and its successors will need a steady stream of lucrative apps. From IT consultants to people who just use their smart phones as watches, it’s all about the apps.

From the outside, Microsoft has provided the software and Nokia has offered the hardware. Like the black words and white pages, one can’t survive without the other. A year ago, Nokia was in a similar situation that Research in Motion is in now. Microsoft has deep pockets. An infusion of capital into an under used manufacturing system is recipe for success. In return, Microsoft has found an in road into a new technology that their previous Windows Phones were denied. Microsoft wants to avoid the pitfalls of companies like Wang Laboratories. Wang created great stand alone word processors, but failed to capitalize on the PC market making them just a foot note in tech history.