Handset makers see window of opportunity to hurt Nokia

Samsung, HTC, Motorola and RIM believe disgruntled Symbian users are ripe for poaching

Nokia's main competitors see the phone manufacturer's adoption of Microsoft Windows 7 as a chance to boost their own market share.

Last week, Nokia announced a partnership with Microsoft to adopt its Windows 7 smartphone platform as a replacement for its Symbian operating system.

Samsung, HTC, Motorola and RIM all believe that this has left Nokia in a vulnerable position because of the time it will take to release a Windows phone, and they hope to capitalise on this opportunity, according to the Financial Times.

"I can see in terms of Nokia and Microsoft's relations we will do our best effort to try and gain more market share," said JK Shin, head of Samsung's mobile division.

Sanjay Jha, chief executive of Motorola, indicated similar thinking, saying: "Europe is interesting right now from the point of view of Nokia's transition. Potentially that creates opportunity for us."

HTC and RIM have also indicated that they hope to capitalise on Nokia's transition, according to the paper.

Google's Android became the most popular smartphone platform in the second half of 2010, while Nokia's Symbian has lost market share to Andriod and Apple's iOS.

Large volumes of Nokia Windows 7 smartphones are not expected until 2012.