MS to aquire Nokia divices division

[Canbacon]

Well, looks like Nokia as we know it will be just a maps/network infrastructure company.

MS has taken over the cellphone and devices division for over 5 billion dollars.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/Sep13/09-02AnnouncementPR.aspx

Steven Elop is stepping down and Risto Siilasmaa is taking over as intern CEO. Looks like Elop will be the front runner to replace Balmer as CEO of MS.

Crazy times.

Edit, new link:
http://conversations.nokia.com/2013...n-letter-from-steve-ballmer-and-stephen-elop/
http://press.nokia.com/2013/09/02/m...-license-nokias-patents-and-mapping-services/

(edit by mod PM - fixed spelling)

 

[Eug]

I wondered if this would happen, although I was thinking next year or the year after or something.

The interesting part to me is that Microsoft will also own the feature phone portions of Nokia, not just Windows Phone hardware.

 

[desura]

excuse me? A Nokia exec will run MS?

 

[Canbacon]

Yea, though it makes sense to package it all up so the Asha line can step them into WP. The Asha line is the successful version of the MS Kin.

 

[Canbacon]

excuse me? A Nokia exec will run MS?

Elop is now stepping down from Nokia. A bit odd that he is leaving at the same time as Balmer. So the timings line up for Elop's cooling off period to move into Balmer's position. However, this is all speculation.

 

[Eug]

Hmmm... Elop was a senior exec at MS.

 

[Mopetar]

excuse me? A Nokia exec will run MS?

Elop was an executive at Microsoft before he joined Nokia. Even if he's not the best, he'd still be better than Ballmer.

 

[Selenium_Glow]

What I noticed was this (w.r.t mobile devices) ->
1. Motorola, the company that literally invented the Mobile Phone was taken over by Google.
2. Ericsson, once a major name in Mobile devices is now just a shadow. Sony has got all it's mobile portfolio now.
3. Nokia, which even 2 years ago was the largest mobile phone business, is now taken over by Microsoft.

I forsee and era of IT and appliances companies building our world... :-/

 

[Mopetar]

After reading the article, it seems that they paid a lot less for Nokia's mobile division than I would have expected. I don't expect this to be wildly profitable for Microsoft in the short term, but I believe it will be going forward.

I remember a few years ago when there was talk of the, buying Yahoo for several times as much. This almost seems too sane for Microsoft. I bet Ballmer had nothing to do with it.

 

[BladeVenom]

RIP Nokia phones.

 

[Crono]

I hope Microsoft doesn't mess with the company too much.

 

[zokudu]

So Elop leaves Microsoft, becomes CEO of Nokia, Pushes Windows Phones for several years making them the go to Windows Phone brand, and gets the hardware division sold off to Microsoft and rewarded at least a major division position if not CEO.

Is this legal?

 

[elitejp]

I hope Microsoft doesn't mess with the company too much.

I understand what your saying but if Nokia didnt need to change things up they wouldnt be selling there company. So obviously a change is whats needed.

 

[pantsaregood]

I understand what your saying but if Nokia didnt need to change things up they wouldnt be selling there company. So obviously a change is whats needed.

Microsoft has been attempting to buy Nokia for at least six months. There was apparently a point at which talks broke down a few months back. I'm actually surprised to see it going through.

Let's be honest: unless Microsoft completely ignores Nokia in the way Google ignores Motorola, this is the end of non-Nokia Windows Phone hardware. It's strange to think about, but they already possess something like 80% of the market. Windows Phone has become a little difficult to ignore in a few places, too; 8.5% marketshare in the EU5 and 12.5% in Mexico. It isn't dominating anything, but it would be a little ridiculous to dismiss it as a "rounding error" in those markets.

EDIT: Also, though it is entertaining to think that Elop was a plant from Microsoft who had this intention from the beginning, I doubt it. Some people try to imply that he crushed Nokia, but they started having issues before he came in. You could certainly argue the course he took Nokia on wasn't the correct one to save them from their decline, but the decline was in place when he showed up.
Hopefully this works out well for both parties.

 

[bearxor]

This was inevitable, but I still figured it was probably a couple years away.

I also think this will mean the end of HTC and Samsung making Windows Phones. Might still get some from the smaller Chinese companies.

 

[joshhedge]

This was inevitable, but I still figured it was probably a couple years away.

I also think this will mean the end of HTC and Samsung making Windows Phones. Might still get some from the smaller Chinese companies.

That's a shame regarding HTC, some of their best devices were WP7/8, especially the 8X.

 

[PingviN]

So Elop leaves Microsoft, becomes CEO of Nokia, Pushes Windows Phones for several years making them the go to Windows Phone brand, and gets the hardware division sold off to Microsoft and rewarded at least a major division position if not CEO.

Is this legal?

More like:

Elop leaves Microsoft
Nokia board elects him to be CEO of Nokia, knowing his relationship with MS
Nokia partners with Microsoft and Windows Phone
Microsoft proposes to purchase it's partner
Nokia shareholders votes either yes or no

So yeah, it's legal. Shareholders can do whatever they want with the company they own.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Why would MS want Elop as CEO? He basically ran a sinking ship at Nokia for a few years and then got them sold off.

 

[jpeyton]

For all of Microsoft's latest blunders, their M&A team hit a home-run here. $7 billion is a bargain basement price for Nokia (including their patents).

Remember, they offered $48 billion for Yahoo! back in 2008.

 

[Deeko]

Hopefully Microsoft plays this closer to how Google has with Motorola - if they really want Windows Phone to take off, they need 3rd party support too.

But hey, they have cash to burn, it was cheap, and they acquired a ton of patents, so I would say it's a smart move on their part.

 

[Joe1987]

Looking forward to a Kin III

If MS were to make Windows phone 8 (sorry, I don't keep track of what they're doing that closely) and the Surface RT an integrated platform, I'd give them a fair chance at being successful, however, I just see MS screwing this up.

 

[Graze]

Elop is a candidate for MS ceo?
This guys does not have a good track record, what the hell! Have fun with that MS your will irrelevance will only come faster.
Can't say I didn't see Nokia mobile division being sold to MS.

 

[Phobic9]

Looking forward to a Kin III

If MS were to make Windows phone 8 (sorry, I don't keep track of what they're doing that closely) and the Surface RT an integrated platform, I'd give them a fair chance at being successful, however, I just see MS screwing this up.

I laughed at this. Besides, a Kin III made by Nokia could possibly be good.. maybe?

Really though, I'm not particularly surprised by this news. It's almost as if Elop was like a Trojan Horse for MS to buy Nokia. Not that I'm one for conspiracy theories or anything.

 

[corkyg]

Nokia shareholders are rejoicing - their stock is now soaring.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/nokia-share-price-soars/800516.html

 

[Dari]

Trojan.