The Nokia-Microsoft alliance is still going strong and Symbian smartphones are the one with the benefit this time.

If you own a Nokia 701, 700, 603, E7, X7, C7, Oro or C6-01, you can now install the Microsoft Office app via the Software Update tool on your smartphones or via the Nokia Suite app on your computer. The Office app will also become available to Nokia N8, Nokia E6 or Nokia 500 in the following weeks, while the 808 PureView will have it preinstalled when it ships.

Until now, the true Microsoft Office experience was reserved to Windows Phone users, but Symbian fans will now be able to join the party.

Microsoft® Office for Nokia

Nokia revealed that the Nokia 808 PureView runs Nokia Belle OS Feature Pack 1, which brings a number of improvements. Also, they have some good news and some bad news for owners of current Belle devices too, depending on what device you have.

The good news is that if you have Nokia 701, 700 or 603, then you will be getting the feature pack soon. The bad news is that other devices are not invited to the party.

The Belle Feature Pack 1 update also brings a new, faster, HTML5-capable web browser, the Microsoft Apps and the latest version of Nokia Maps. Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Headphone will enhance the audio experience for both music and videos. Belle FP1 will also improve the user interface though details on that are scarce the multitasking bar has been updated and the notification bar is "even better". There are 20 new widgets included too.

After Nokia Released the Belle Update to all Symbian^3 device, Nokia Beta Labs which allows users to test out beta versions of upcoming apps for Nokia phones for free, put out the latest version of its Maps Suite software for Belle-the most recent version of the Nokia OS. It is the Nokia Maps suite 2.0

While still technically in development, the new version provides some pretty cool functionality to the apps which come with Map Suite (Drive, Maps, My Location, Places, Public Transportation, Weather), specifically geared to take advantage of new Belle features.

In addition to fast, intuitive tools for finding your way, the new Maps makes accessing information and features faster than ever. Press and hold on a destination to choose how you want to get there-including public transport. And enjoy one-tap access to Places and Weather right from your Home screen.

Nokia Maps now also makes your maps more personal than ever. Turn on Photos to see your snapshots of the places you have been placed along your map. Create customized routes for sightseeing or to avoid traffic. You can even save your favorite routes to access them later.

Try it Now!

Rumors about Nokia to announce the Nokia 803 Symbian Belle smartphone. The device will likely be the last phone running the Symbian OS to come from Nokia.

Reportedly, the Nokia 803 will feature a 4-inch AMOLED screen unit. HDMI port, NFC connectivity and microSIM slot complete the rumored specs.

Most importantly however, Nokia 803 is rumored to feature the largest camera sensor we have ever seen on a Smartphone (I suggest its a 16.1MP Wide lens Camera). Add to this the suspected optical zoom and we might end up seeing one of the greatest camera phones on the market.

The long-awaited Belle update for older Nokias that launched with Symbian^3 has started rolling out. We received tons of tips and when we plugged in our Nokia N8, Ovi Suite immediately found an update.

The update is version 111.030.0609, the latest available version of Nokia Belle, even for the Nokia 701. That means that owners of an N8, E7, X7, C7, E6, C6-01 and Oro will be on par software-wise with phones that launched with Belle.

Video Below!

A while back, Nokia Twitter account jumped the gun when announcing the release of the Belle update for older Nokia smartphones. Lets hope this time it is for real Nokia Vietnamese site announced that Belle is coming on February 8 for the following models: N8, E7, X7, E6, C6-01. Nokia Vietnam Facebook page confirmed it.

However the page on Nokia site is now gone, while the Facebook post is still up.

We know the Belle update is coming in February, that is the latest info from Nokia. The exact date is not clear though, their UK page just says "soon" and adds the Nokia 500 to the list of updateable phones.

Nokia have now confirmed via their official Twitter feed that major updates have already begun rolling out to a number of devices currently running Symbian Anna, bumping them up to Symbian Belle, news that a lot of Nokia fans will no doubt welcome with open arms.

Devices including the N8, as well as the likes of Nokia E7, C7, E6, X7, C6-01 and 500 will all now ship with Symbian Belle pre-installed. The latest iteration of the Symbian OS brings functionality and a general user experience more inline with that of Android and iOS.

Nokia Tweeted yesteday that the Nokia belle Update is coming to some Nokia Devices by Next week. Today, Nokia correted its info and said that the Update will start rolling-out on Feburary.

The devices that will be updated to Belle include Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia X7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia 500 and Nokia Oro. Nokia has also confirmed that the Nokia N8, C7 and C6-01 have now started shipping with the Belle update pre-installed and we are sure other handsets will join them soon.

Nokia N8 i currently running Symbian Anna OS officially, but a Belle update is Coming very soon. A second Belle firmware has leaked and this time it is reportedly running much better.

The ROM is version 111.030.609, newer than even the leaked ROM for the C7 that we saw a while back. There is a good deal of new widgets and the transitions run very smoothly even on the aging 680MHz processor.

Demo Below!

Owners of the Nokia N8, E7, X7, C6-01, C7, Oro, E6, and 500 will have to wait a bit longer for the Symbian Belle update because as it turns out, you won't be getting it any time this year.

Nokia said that these devices will be treated to Symbian Belle sometime in early-2012. Earlier it was expected that the update will be released before the end of this year but that clearly does not seem to be the case anymore.

Nokia Official Statment:

"Nokia Belle is the latest Symbian software release with all-new user interface, improved user experience, and dozens of improved and new features. We have already shipped Nokia 603, 700 and 701 with Belle software this year, and have received great feedback on the new user experience.

We will make Nokia Belle available to consumers globally by rolling out the Belle software for the existing Nokia range of smartphones such as N8, E7, X7, C6-01, C7, Oro, E6, and Nokia 500 in early 2012. With that, millions of consumers around the world will get a totally fresh experience on their Symbian Smartphones"