Microsoft Reportedly Looking to Buy Nokia's Phone Business
There has been some speculation in the past if Microsoft could acquire Nokia's mobile phone business instead of simply partnering with the company.
An unconfirmed report now suggests that Microsoft and Nokia could be in the final phases of integrating the struggling handset maker into Microsoft.
According to a tweet by Eldar Murtazin of Mobile Review, Microsoft and Nokia executives will meet in Las Vegas during CES to discuss the terms of the sale as well as "one or two" manufacturing facilities. Part of the deal is apparently Microsoft's intent to drop the Nokia brand and convince Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, a former Microsoft executive, to resign. A juicy component of the potential acquisition may be Nokia's patent portfolio rather than a pure Microsoft interest in becoming a leading cell phone manufacturer.
Of course, there is no confirmation from Nokia or Microsoft, but it is reasonable to assume that Microsoft has been playing with the idea of buying the phone maker to at least jumpstart its Windows Phone platform, which isn't doing so well either. Controlling both the software and hardware development has been critical to Apple's success; Google is following with the acquisition of Motorola; and Nokia as part of Microsoft could be a logical move. Stephen Elop may forever be branded as the spy that Microsoft placed within Nokia to facilitate a takeover of the company.
We expect Microsoft and Nokia to become a much more integrated business, no matter whether Nokia is acquired or not. A few weeks ago, there were rumors that Microsoft and Nokia could be launching a joint bid to acquire Blackberry maker RIM, which also indicated that the companies were in it together.
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Microkia or Nokisoft? Hmmmmmm........
Neither one of these companies makes any hardware that I would want, and being in bed with each other isn't going to help that.
love the move plus adding rimm in the mix make microsoft pretty dang powerful from a patent perspective too,have been saying this for a while already microsoft,nokia plus rimm and w8 integration
MSFT makes is own successful game console, why not cellphone. It would also give MSFT more access to all of Nokia patent.
I've used only Nokia phones for 10 years and I love their products. If Nokia is to be swallowed my Microsoft, I hope they at least keep their good standards.
Au revoir Nokia!
I'll believe this rumor when I see it happen. This rumor has been around since Nokia announced the switch to WP7.
If it happens, it will be a well orchestrated takeover. However companies will be very reluctant to hire ex-Microsoft VPs in the future out of fear of being gutted.
..And they will releasee Microphone v.10 next year
Dropping the Nokia name; could than mean Microsoft will than offer the re-branded mPhone with Win 8, or maybe wPhone :-)
I am sure Apple is watching the proceedings closely !
obviously the real value behind this acquisition really are the patents, not the business. then when they fail, again, with the next version of the windows phone platform, they can fold the business and "innovate by suing". it would certainly make them more money than they're making now out of the partnership. what really bothers me though is not knowing for sure whether elop ever truly believed that windows phone would present them with a viable business model or whether it was all just a pre-acquisition scheme (to further de-value nokia stock?). could they have really been that naive? ironically, some late nokia models like the lumia, are handsome devices, i would have bought one if it had run android.
Neither one of these companies makes any hardware that I would want, and being in bed with each other isn't going to help that.
The basic Micro$oft Mouse is actually not all bad.
I'm really not liking the vertical integration happening in consumer electronics hardware the last few years. I want separate OS and hardware companies. I want freedom to choose.
I'm really not liking the vertical integration happening in consumer electronics hardware the last few years. I want separate OS and hardware companies. I want freedom to choose.
Yes, good point.
Remember the Amiga ? Nothing good comes of a Manufacturer owning the Hardware and the OS. You just end up with an overpriced box (albeit a good one in this case) and compatibility problems to no end.
[citation][nom][/nom]Google is following with the acquisition of Motorola[/citation]
That's too bad. I always liked motorola. But if they are going to be owned by google I will never buy one again.
This is interesting, future hand held and desktops software will get more seemliness in the future. Imagine install and use the same software on both handheld and computer and share the same data pool and it would seem MS is aiming at just that. Same API's ect that would allow the software developers to do true multi platform software without the need to do specific code for each. If intel manage to get their atoms down to true hand held power budget i bet the next nokia phoone will feature it if MS takes em over.
This is interesting, future hand held and desktops software will get more seemliness in the future
"seemliness" ?!
This is interesting, future hand held and desktops software will get more seemliness in the future. Imagine install and use the same software on both handheld and computer and share the same data pool and it would seem MS is aiming at just that. Same API's ect that would allow the software developers to do true multi platform software without the need to do specific code for each. If intel manage to get their atoms down to true hand held power budget i bet the next nokia phoone will feature it if MS takes em over.
XNA is insane in that regards. They managed to make it decently easy to port games between different Microsoft platforms
I used mostly Nokia phones in the past but stop buying any since they drop MeeGo and went Windows exclusive. I never buy a product from a company who try tell consumer what they want instead listen to what they want.
Feel so sad seeing an iconic brand goes down.
MS, Nokia and BlackBerry....NoSoftBerries???
NO... "MesswithNoBerries" only Balls.....
if m$ does buy nokia I hope they don't pull an aple and onyl sell m$ branded phones knocking other copanies from using their software.. pretty sure that's hamper thier plans for WP7/8 .. personally I with nokia had bought WebOS, it made sense with thier old standpoint of not watering down the brand and they'd be the onyl ones with it... btu that isn't how things panned out. so here's hoping if this happens m$ keeps letting other oems use thier OS... and that soembody will make a new WebOS edivce... I'm gettign tired of my palm pre but nop other OS is appealing to me (still have to check ICS though but the older android versions weren't impressing me)
Won't happen, Nokia is too strong a brand to simply carve up for ownership of IP
Another one bites the dust?
MS is so cheap. They should acquire Samsung phone business instead, and rename Windows to Galaxies ;-)