The first details about Nokia Corp.'s smartphones powered by Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Phone operating system have begun to emerge. According to chief executive of European semiconductor maker STMicroelectronics, Nokia will utilize ST-Ericsson's system-on-chip with two general-purpose ARM processing cores and ARM Mali graphics engine.

Carlo Bozotti, the CEO of ST, told Forbes that ST-Ericsson will be one of two chip suppliers for Nokia’s upcoming Windows Phones. In particular, ST-Ericsson will be “an important supplier” for Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 phones. The first ST-Ericsson system-on-chip (SoC) that will appear in a Nokia Windows Phone is the NovaThor U8500, according to the high-ranking executive.

The ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500 is features two ARM Cortex-A9 processing engines as well as Mali 400 graphics technology. The SoC supports full-HD playback, accelerated 3D graphics, support for high resolution touch-screens, two cameras, GSM/EDGE/3G/3.5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM and so on.

Previously it was reported that Nokia would use Qualcomm hardware for its next-generation smartphones. Historically, Nokia did not have any relations with Qualcomm, which makes it harder for the firm to create its first Windows Phone models.

Nokia plans to release twelve phones running Windows Phone operating systems in 2012.

Tags: Nokia, ST-Ericsson, Qualcomm, Windows Phone, Microsoft, STMicroelectronics