Nokia outsources Symbian development, support

From CNET News.com: Nokia has finalized an agreement that will see the handset maker outsource Symbian development to global consulting and outsourcing company Accenture.

The deal between the companies was first announced in April. Accenture will handle Symbian software development and support for Nokia through 2016. In addition, Accenture will be tasked with "transferring employee skills and capabilities to provide mobility software, business and operational services around the Windows Phone platform to Nokia and other ecosystem participants."

In order to help Accenture achieve those goals, Nokia is transferring approximately 2,800 employees from the U.S., Finland, the U.K., and other countries to the outsourcing firm. The employees will be transferred to Accenture when the deal closes in October.

"As we move our primary smartphone platform to Windows Phone, we will look to explore potential opportunities to tap this talent pool as they develop and expand their knowledge and capabilities beyond Symbian," Nokia executive vice president for Smart Devices, Jo Harlow said in a statement.

In April, Nokia announced that it will also layoff 4,000 employees by the end of 2012. Most of those cuts will occur in Denmark, Finland, and the U.K.

Nokia's deal with Accenture is the latest chapter in the company's ongoing effort to transition from Symbian to Windows Phone. Nokia and Microsoft announced a partnership in February that will see Windows Phone become the "principal" operating system in its line of smartphones.

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