Nokia has announced details of the next phase of its Symbian strategy, which includes a strategic collaboration with Accenture. The company will be taking on all aspects of Symbian software development and the companies expect completion of the final agreement in summer 2011. Read on to find out more about Nokia moving Symbian to Accenture.

You may be wondering who Accenture are, we certainly were, but according to Nokia Conversations, the company is 'a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company with more than 215,000 employees serving clients in more than 120 countries', which means it is in the best possible position to take on the huge task of delivering future apps and services to the 225 million Symbian users already out there and the 150 million handset Nokia believes it will sell in the coming months.

As part of the agreement Accenture will be taking on come 3000 Symbian software developers. Employees currently located in China, Finland, India, United Kingdom and the United States, will initially work on Symbian software activities for Nokia.

Going forward, it looks as though the collaboration will include plans for Accenture to help develop mobility software, business and operational services for the Windows Phone platform for Nokia. Under the proposed agreement, Accenture would become a preferred partner for Nokia's smartphone development activities, as well as a preferred provider of services.