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Microsoft continues to pay Nokia more to use Windows Phone than the struggling Finnish firm pays in software royalty fees, its been confirmed, though Nokia still predicts similar struggles in the next quarter. As in previous quarters, Nokia is paid €250m ($307m) each three month period by Microsoft in “platform support payments” and the Finns estimate that “the total amount of the platform support payments is expected to slightly exceed the total amount of the minimum software royalty commitments.”

“Our agreement with Microsoft includes platform support payments from Microsoft to us as well as software royalty payments from us to Microsoft. In the second quarter 2012, we received a quarterly platform support payment of USD 250 million (approximately EUR 196 million). Under the terms of the agreement governing the platform support payments, the amount of each quarterly platform support payment is USD 250 million. We have a competitive software royalty structure, which includes annual minimum software royalty commitments. Minimum software royalty commitments are paid quarterly. Over the life of the agreement, both the platform support payments and the minimum software royalty commitments are expected to measure in the billions of US dollars. The total amount of the platform support payments is expected to slightly exceed the total amount of the minimum software royalty commitments. In accordance with the contract terms, the platform support payments and annual minimum software royalty commitment payments continue for a corresponding period of time” Nokia

Nokia and Microsoft have always been coy on exactly how much is charged of each OEM to use Windows Phone devices, but the takeaway here is that right now it’s not costing Nokia anything to put the platform on its handsets. In fact, Microsoft is in effect subsidizing Nokia’s losses.

As for the immediate future, Windows Phone 8 won’t arrive soon enough to turn around Q3 2012. Nokia is predicting a similar batch of numbers to what it announced today, with Q3 expected to be roughly on a par with Q2′s performance give or take 4-percent.

What could make a difference is if Lumia Windows Phone sales continue to rise at the same pace. Nokia announced shipments of 2m handsets in Q1 2012, and 4m in Q2, so the platform is certainly going in the right direction; unfortunately for the company’s bottom line, that success was offset significantly by losses in all divisions – including NAVTEQ and other services – and the continued dwindling of interest in Symbian phones.

However, the fact that current Lumia handsets won’t get an upgrade to Windows Phone 8 may well scupper the rise in interest, if the mass market figures out that it’s buying into what amounts to a dead-end range. AT&T recently halved the price of the Lumia 900 to $49.99 on contract, though Nokia insists that doing so is standard market practice given where the device is in its lifespan.

Nokia: Microsoft pays us more than we pay them (but Q3 will still be dire) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

AT&T has halved the price of the Nokia Lumia 900 in the US, asking under fifty bucks for the Windows Phone 7 handset. Launched back in April at an already competitive $99.99 with a new, two-year agreement, the cost of entry with the Lumia 900 is now $49.99; however, in the intervening period there have been revelations about Windows Phone 7 handsets’ future that may dissuade some buyers.

Microsoft officially announced Windows Phone 8 last month, but at the same time confirmed that owners of existing devices wouldn’t get an upgrade to the new platform. Instead, they’d get a halfway house measure – Windows Phone 7.8 – with the same UI but none of the underlying advantages or, indeed, the commitment to future upgrades beyond that point.

That leaves the Lumia 900 as something of an evolutionary dead-end, a fact which may well have encouraged AT&T to halve the price of the smartphone. The Finnish company is unsurprisingly working on new WP8 Lumia devices, but they’re not expected until later in 2012.

Still, if you’re looking for a Windows Phone today and you’re unwilling to wait, the Lumia 900 is probably your best option. Check out our full review here, and then head over to see what you’ve got to come in our Windows Phone 7.8 preview.

AT&T halves Nokia Lumia 900 price (but will WP7.8 scare buyers off?) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Early Lumia 900 adopters might feel spurned knowing that their devices won’t get any near-future upgrades beyond Windows Phone 7.8, but AT&T and Nokia are hoping that some new customers just need a little incentive to forgive the OS ceiling. As of now, the Lumia 900 has taken a permanent price cut to $50 on contract, whether it’s one of the early color options or pretty in pink. Although the price drop might not take power users’ eyes off of the Windows Phone 8 prize, it could make the Lumia 900 a low-hanging fruit for more than a few newcomers.

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Nokia and AT&T cut Lumia 900 price to $50, sweeten the Windows Phone 7.8 pot originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That Nokia Lumia 900 Batman edition not quite your thing? Looks like the Windows Phone handset’s getting yet another version, this time in an eye-catching pink. The new color joins white, black and cyan, heading exclusively to AT&T this Sunday, July 15th. Need some apps to run on that 1.4Ghz processor? Nokia recommends Groupon, Fruit Ninja and the Instagram-esque Apict, for interested parties.

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Pink Nokia Lumia 900 headed for AT&T July 15th, demands a Psychedelic Furs ringtone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia is pushing hard with its The Dark Knight Rises tie-in with the Lumia 900, and its latest promo could be the best yet: full 3D maps of Gotham City. Previewed today in a new teaser video (which you can see after the cut), the map will allow users to “explore Gotham City like never before” complete with in-universe landmarks such as Wayne Tower.

Nokia is playing the full details as close to its chest as Bruce Wayne keeps his secret identity on the down-low, but this could be pure catnip to any Batman fan. The Lumia range gets an exclusive The Dark Knight Rises app, which comes with cast info, movie showtimes, trailers and more, as well as wallpapers and ringtones.

There’s also a location-based game, powered by Foursquare, which allows players to take the role of Batman or Bane and build up territory by checking into places, all with updates pushed to a Live Tile on the Windows Phone homescreen. It’s not clear whether those checkins will have any connection with the 3D Gotham map.

We don’t know when the 3D map will be released, but with The Dark Knight Rises set to hit theaters on July 20 that seems a reasonable time for Nokia to push it out.

Update: Now we’ve got some screenshots of the interface: looks like this is a desktop 3D mapping system rather than a phone app. Check out full-size shots in the gallery below.

Nokia maps 3D Gotham City in The Dark Knight Rises tie-in [Updated] is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.