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Nokia Sea Ray is first glimpse of Nokia Windows Phone

Click here for the first look at an actual, real, not-a-computer mock-up, honest-to-goodness Nokia phone running Windows Phone software.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm
2 min read

Fancy a glimpse of a Nokia Windows Phone? Look no further, true believer, because this is the first look at an actual, real, not-a-computer-mockup, honest-to-goodness Nokia phone running Windows Phone software.

No sooner has Nokia set the stage for the official unveiling of its first Windows Phone devices at Nokia World in October than this first device appears, and it's a dead ringer for the newly announced Nokia N9.

Nokia boss Stephen Elop whipped the phone from his pocket during a presentation. He called it Sea Ray, presumably a code name for this Windows Phone prototype. It's running Windows Phone Mango, the latest version of Microsoft's operating system for mobile phones.

It looks just like the new N9, with a tough Gorilla Glass touchscreen and a "pillow-shaped backing", whatever that is. The LED flash is in a different position to the N9, which may mean it has a different camera to the N9's 8-megapixel snapper. There also appears to be an extra button on the phone.

Elop called for the audience to turn off cameras and recording devices before producing the "super-confidential" device, stressing he didn't want to see it on the blogosphere. Which is either adorably naïve, or staggeringly cynical -- of course it's going to hit the Net (on Hungarian site Technet) and of course we're going to write about it with the breathless excitement of a nerd on prom night.

We're glad to see Nokia cracking on with its Windows Phones, as we can't wait to get our hands on one. The partnership should hopefully put both Nokia and Microsoft back in the smart phone race where they currently trail Apple and Google Android like a couple of Robin Reliants in a Grand Prix.

Now this is just a prototype, but what do you think? Are the early signs good for Nokia's Windows Phone-powered resurgence?