Microsoft and Nokia begin Symbian-to-Windows aid

The united smartphone groups Microsoft and Nokia have together launched a package of tools and documents to drive developers onto Windows Phone.

Developers with experience of Nokia’s mobile operating system, Symbian, can today read a series of online guides on how to port their work to the Windows Phone operating system.

The future of Symbian has become a matter of dispute, particularly since its owner Nokia reached a landmark deal with Microsoft to incorporate the Windows Phone OS across the Finnish firm’s range of smartphones.

Now Nokia is incentivising developers to turn their attention to Windows Phone, launching a comprehensive online guide (here) along with a Symbian-to-Windows API mapping tool (here).

Both Microsoft and Nokia will also take part in what’s called the “Nokia Windows Phone Training roadshow”; a series of developer tutorial events that begin today, in Paris, and will stretch across Europe and finish in Silicon Valley.

Dates and venues for the roadshow follows:

Paris, France; 21 September
Milan, Italy; 26 September
Madrid, Spain; 29 September
Berlin, Germany; 4 October
London, United Kingdom; 10 October
Silicon Valley, USA – (date t be decided)

The series of tools, guides and events continues Microsoft’s untiring bid to become the big fourth player in smartphone business. The company has already launched a similar set of guides for iOS and Android developers.