Nokia to post quarter loss pre-launches

Once the world's biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia has fallen behind rivals as its partnership with software giant Microsoft has yet to capture consumers' imagination like Apple's iPhones or Samsumg's Galaxy models.

The Finnish group is now pinning its hopes on new, top-of-the-range Lumia 820 and 920 phones, which use Microsoft's latest Windows 8 software and are due to hit stores in early November.

Analysts say sales in the pre-holiday season may determine Nokia's chances of long-term survival.

Competition is fierce, said Eric Beaudet at Natixis Securities. The story really will be whether it can ramp up with the Windows 8 phones.

Analysts have written off the third quarter as a weak one for Nokia without new Lumia phones to compensate for a heavy drop in sales of older models.

They are forecasting an underlying loss - which strips out one-off items - of around 11 euro cents per share, according to the average forecast of 35 analysts. That would be the third straight quarter of underlying losses.

Many analysts said they would focus on how Chief Executive Stephen Elop plans to partner with network operators to make sure the newest Lumia phones can compete with Apple's new iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy SIII.

Details on aggressive sales and marketing plans could persuade investors to give Nokia more time, analysts

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