The new partnership between Nokia and Microsoft appears to have gotten even stronger with the integration of Ovi Maps on Windows Phone 7 handsets.

As well as bringing Nokia’s expertise in location-based services and mapping to Windows Phone 7, Stephen Elop, Nokia’s CEO has announced on Nokia Conversations (the official Nokia blog) that Nokia has “shifted from a mode of developing our strategy to one of putting our strategy into action.” This announcement comes to us from the guys at T3 via BGR.

Elop goes on to talk of a new Nokia branded application store being delivered, and there is also some good news for published Nokia developers who want to work with Microsoft’s Window Phone 7 platform, for the first year the developer registration fee – normally $99- will be waived, most likely to encourage developers on board.

In addition, Symbian is not left out of the announcement as the Nokia CEO said that Nokia has a “laser focus” on the delivery of great Symbian smartphones, as well as the soon to be introduced Symbian Anna software as part of “an ongoing pattern of software enhancements”. Which seem coincide with our article ‘Nokia To Continue With Symbian For a While Yet’ — see article here.

This all sounds like great news with the relatively new Windows Phone 7 platform merging with Nokia’s strengths. Let us know what you think about the partnership between Microsoft and Nokia, and what software enhancements you would like to see on the Windows Phone 7 smartphones.

Also of interest why not check out our articles on the Windows Phone 7 – Latest Chassis Specs Detailed and 16MP Camera Handset Coming from HTC: Video.