The Friday-announced wide-ranging alliance between Nokia and Microsoft has clearly brought software developers and companies into the limelight at the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

The Nokia/Microsoft partnership will result in the future development and sales of Nokia smartphones based on Microsoft’s mobile-specific operating system, Windows Phone 7.

With Nokia already developing handsets running the Symbian and MeeGo operating systems, there apparently was some confusion in the media about the company’s alliance with Microsoft. However, Stephen Elop – the current Nokia CEO and an ex-Microsoft executive – clarified Nokia’s stance at a press briefing at the MWC.

Disclosing that Nokia’s development of the Meego and new Symbian phones will continue, though the company eventually plans a transition of all users and developers to the Windows Phone platform.

Noting that Nokia will add its content to the Windows Phone marketplace and work at bettering the relations with its developers during the transitional period, Elop revealed that company’s ultimate goal is “beating Android” – an aim for which it plans to leverage Microsoft software.

Further talking about Nokia’s decision to partner Microsoft, Elop said that the Nokia/Microsoft alliance “will create a three horse race: Google/Android, Apple and, now, Nokia and Microsoft.”

According to Elop, the presence of three major players will create a more preferable universal ecosystem of competition. Revealing that Nokia had similar discussions with Google too, Elop said that Nokia/Google partnership would have created an effective duopoly - Nokia/Android vs. Apple.