Nokia

The numbers are in, and it's time to make sense of the data. ABI Research's Michael Morgan checks out the world's 12 largest branded cell phone makers in the first quarter of 2013, providing sales data as well as insight into their strategy and competitive position in the market.

Nokia is rolling out Mail for Exchange, which delivers work email access to entry-level smartphones running the manufacturer's Asha mobile operating system.

LAS VEGAS--Microsoft will place more of a marketing focus on the signature features of the devices its partners produce as well as on the connections between the mobile platform and Windows 8 and Microsoft's Xbox gaming console, according to a Windows Phone executive.

Absent from the CTIA Wireless 2013 conference here this week were the big, company-sponsored product unveilings or parties (or combination thereof) that used to dominate this show. In fact, many big-name companies, including Samsung Electronics, BlackBerry ( NASDAQ:BBRY ), HTC, LG Electronics, Nokia ( NYSE:NOK ) and others did not send their mobile executives to the show.

Nokia cannot afford to lose its nerve now despite calls for a Plan B from some irate shareholders. It needs to keep its focus and not undermine its best efforts.

LAS VEGAS--Nokia is still struggling to gain traction with its Lumia-branded smartphones running Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. However, now that it has flagship products with three of the four Tier 1 carriers, the company is starting to align its marketing messages with Microsoft and its carrier partners to a greater degree than before, according to a Nokia executive.