Nokia N-Series Will Not Be iTunes-Ready

Nokia quashed rumors of a deal with Apple Computer on Thursday by saying its forthcoming N91 phone would be shipping sans-iTunes. Finnish paper Taloussanomat had reported that the phone would soon ship with Apple's popular digital music software.

According to Nokia, there is no current agreement between the two companies. However, it did say that because the N91 has an open development platform, anyone, including Apple, could develop applications for the device.

Reports of iTunes being included on a mobile phone other than one that Apple is helping to develop are questionable at best. The Cupertino company has a long-standing policy of controlling the hardware and software side of products with its technology.

Some blame this policy as the reason why the Motorola iTunes phone has taken so long to come to the market. Last month, Motorola CEO Ed Zander promised analysts that the phone would be launched by the end of September.

"On one of the 66 days left in the quarter -- we're not saying which one yet -- Apple, Motorola, and our biggest operator partners around the world will announce -- and ship -- the first iTunes phone," he said at the time.

A Nokia spokesperson did say, however, that iTunes-like applications were being developed in research labs, but no commercial deals were in place with any of the major music providers.