The Verge - Nokia World 2011 Interviews

Nokia’s Kevin Shields and Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore talk Windows Phone, N9, and more

2011-10-31T20:28:44Z

This week, members of The Verge team sat down with Kevin Shields, a Microsoft (and Windows Phone) veteran who enthusiastically helped introduce the Lumia 800 on stage at Nokia World's day one keynote session after having recently joined Nokia as the company's senior vice president of programming and product management for smart devices. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore - vice president of Windows Phone program management, and a guy you might call the very face of Windows Phone - unexpectedly dropped in on the meeting, which made for a pretty fascinating, entertaining, and informative exchange.

We were able to cover a lot of ground in the 30-odd minute interview, ranging from Nokia's push into lower-end markets to its influence on Windows...

Jo Harlow Interview: US Lumia launch, Nokia tablet strategy, and what's next for Symbian

2011-10-31T11:40:44Z

When I last spoke to Jo Harlow in November of 2010, the former captain of the Duke University women's basketball team was heading Nokia's Symbian Smartphone division. My, how things have changed. Amongst Nokia executives, Jo has probably seen the most upheaval following Stephen Elop's directive to abandon Symbian and MeeGo for a Windows Phone future. Yet even with all that change, I'm told that Jo has undergone the most dramatic transformation over the last eight months, reenergized by the platform shift and a more focused and decisive leadership team.

Jo now holds the title of Executive VP of Smart Devices. As a direct report to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Harlow has responsibility for Windows Phone development as well as the Symbian and...

Marko Ahtisaari interview: Nokia Senior VP of Design

2011-10-31T10:23:08Z

Deep conversations about user experience and iconic forms come easy to Marko Ahtisaari. The son of Finland's tenth president (and winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize) studied philosophy at Columbia University before being elevated to the position of Senior VP of Design at Nokia. His most notable achievements thus far are the MeeGo Swipe interface of the N9 and the polycarbonate monobody design shared by both the N9 and newly unveiled Lumia 800.

I had the chance to interview Marko in London as a followup to my conversation from last year. While there's no way that Markko could have foreseen the switch to Windows Phone back then, the fact that he finds such harmony with Albert Shum's Metro UI demonstrates the synergy that exists between M...

Stephen Elop interview: US Lumia launch, tablets, and the Android controversy

2011-10-31T10:01:28Z

I had the chance to sit down with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop after the launch of its first series of Windows Phone products — the Lumia 800 and 710 — in London. These are devices that Stephen likes to call "the first real Windows Phones." The reveal is only a small but important step, he assured me, on a journey to reinvent Nokia.

The former Microsoft exec turned Nokia CEO shared his thoughts in his customary honest, deliberate, and eloquent manner. He’s clearly a master of the material and his enthusiasm is infectious — he’s impossible not to like in person.

Stephen covered a wide range of topics including Nokia’s intent to introduce a "portfolio of products" into the US in early 2012. He’s clear that it’s not just carrier...