In case you were looking for another example of how Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) are going head-to-head in the mobile space, here’s one for the application layer: in the lead-up to the Symbian Smartphone Show, currently on in London, speakers at Nokia’s developers’ conference yesterday gave some more details on the strategy behind its Series 60-based Web Run-Time platform. Nokia has built this so that “millions of Web developers can now go mobile,” according to Craig Cumberland, director of technology and applications marketing for Nokia’s Software Platforms group (via eWeek). Run-Time allows for the development of widgets for the S60 platform, and Nokia is very much hoping that a wider proliferation of these light services help drive more people to using its devices. Nokia has issued a press release on some of the new features, including a touch user interface, sensor technology and integrating Flash Video into the mobile browser. Nokia may have some catch-up to play, though. Microsoft currently claims that it has 18,000 applications created for the Windows Mobile platform.

SEE ALSO: Nokia Introduces Widgets For S60

There were also hints that Nokia’s refocussed services division could also be courting other handset makers. Cumberland again: “[Web Run-Time] is not specifically Nokia-focused. We have [also] talked to Samsung and LG (SEO: 066570) [and those companies welcomed it].” How this will link up with Symbian and its cross-vendor aspirations is not yet clear. Web Run-Time was first announced in April and should be available for use by the end of this year.