Finnish phone manufacturer Nokia will apparently emulate what Apple did with the iPhone back in 2007 by giving exclusivity deals to European mobile phone operators against a share in revenues.

Apple struck a two-year deal with O2; one that allowed the Telefonica-owned phone network to bolster its user base by poaching high-spending, lucrative customers.The Financial Times says that Nokia will move away from trying to sell as many handsets as possible and instead try to create an aura of exclusivity in a bid to build up anticipation and kickstart a virtuous circle.

Networks likely to be approached include Deutsch Telekom (T-Mobile), France Telecom (Orange), Vodafone and Telefonica (O2). Giving exclusivity on a flagship smartphone to a particular network carries significant risks both to the operator and to the handset manufacturer as both place their bets on one model only.

Nokia is expected to unveil a new Windows Phone 8 smartphone in October, later this year, possibly just after the launch of Microsoft's next operating system, Windows 8.

Source : Financial Times