But, Nokia executives said, Mr. Ollila had not made clear whether he planned to retire or not.

Nokia executives calculate that by 2000 the world will have 500 million mobile phones, up from 135 million today.

To Nokia executives, the immediate risk lies in failing to meet demand for smart phones like the Communicator, those with added features that they believe consumers will pay more for.

Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop says company is not in talks with Microsoft over buyout deal.

Today, the tune is so ubiquitous on sidewalks and commuter trains and buses that Nokia executives worry that it may come across as annoying.

Investors are fuming because in recent statements, Nokia executives had been saying that business in key market segments was healthy.

"Our goal is to delight hundreds of millions of consumers around the world, and we're well on our way," said Niklas Savander, a senior Nokia executive.

But when newspapers here reported that Mr. Kairamo took his own life, Nokia executives did not deny it.

Do we, one Nokia executive asks, want to "make the illusion we are clean?"

"There has not been a lot of incentive," said Mr. Tuomi, the former Nokia executive.