Nokia has enough on its hands without acquiring a basket-case internet company. CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo ruled out a purchase of Yahoo! here in Barcelona today, saying Nokia can do just as badly in web services on its own, with its Ovi strategy. Of course, he didn't quite put it like that.

"We have not articulated a number as of yet," he said when asked how he expected Ovi to perform financially. "I think we can redefine the internet without taking a step like you are pointing out," Kallasvuo said with a (rare) chuckle, in response to a question.

But the company did reveal Phormidable ambitions.

Anssi Vanjoki, executive VP of markets for Nokia said that the company already had the biggest database of consumer behaviour in the world.

"In a real-time fashion we can forecast what is going on ... and project that into our service creation. It's tempting to make a business out of that as well".

"The key here is that everything happens under the control of the consumer", he added.

Tread carefully, we would advise. ®