One of the unknowns of the Nokia-Microsoft strategic agreement had been how the companies would integrate their existing app stores.

Now Nokia has made clear it will launch a new store when its first Windows Phone 7 devices become available.

The company said it will be "opening a new Nokia-branded global application store that leverages the Windows Marketplace infrastructure."

Give and take

Not specified, it's assumed its existing Ovi Store will be maintained for legacy Symbian devices, but developers will able to submit content to both easily.

"Developers will be able to publish and distribute applications through a single developer portal to hundreds of millions of consumers that use Windows Phone, Symbian and Series 40 devices," Nokia commented.

In addition, to this integration, Nokia will extend its operator billing system - the widest in the mobile space with 112 operators in 36 markets - to the Windows Phone ecosystem.

[source: Nokia]