Nokia MeeGo chief leaves ahead of key launch

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Ari Jaaksi, the head of devices using Nokia's new high-end MeeGo software, has left the company just before the world's top cellphone maker is due to launch the first phone using the new software.

Nokia hopes the new MeeGo software, a merger of its Maemo software, which Jaaksi helped build up, with Intel's Moblin, will help it in its battle against Apple and Google at the top end of the cellphone market.

"Nokia needs to step up on the MeeGo side. MeeGo has grown up from Maemo and there is much more at stake now," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

"They need someone who understands mobile and PC, who might be closer to Intel and a much better public person," she said.

Nokia has promised to unveil the first device using MeeGo by the end of the year.

Nokia controls 40 percent of the smartphone market with its Symbian software but has lost its leading position among the most expensive models to its new rivals.