snipa
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 10, 2013
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Nokia expects Microsoft to finally take
control of its devices division on April
25th, the company announced today. The $
7.2 billion deal first announced in
September of last year will see Nokia sell
"substantially all of its Devices and Services
business to Microsoft." Nokia's latest update
says that "certain customary closing
conditions" are all that stands in the way of
the acquisition being finalized. That
suggests antitrust authorities in Asia have
signed off on the deal after holding things
up last month, forcing Microsoft and Nokia
to push back their estimated closing date.
"This acquisition will help Microsoft
accelerate innovation and market adoption
for Windows Phones," Microsoft said in a
statement. Several changes have been made
since the acquisition was first proposed,
however. Microsoft has agreed to oversee
and manage Nokia.com and all of the
company's social media sites for at least one
year. A Korean manufacturing facility that
was included in the original deal will no
longer be acquired by Microsoft. The big buy
was announced while Steve Ballmer was still
Microsoft's chief executive.
In just a few days, Microsoft now under
the guidance of new CEO Satya Nadella
will begin its quest to build its own flagship
smartphones, rather than rely on Nokia's
design chops to push the Windows Phone
platform forward. Nokia has done a
commendable job with its Lumia line of
devices, but Microsoft still needs to produce
something better if it hopes to legitimately
compete with Android and iOS, or at the
very least secure a comfortable third place
position. Windows Phone 8.1 has seen a
number of major improvements; now it's
time for Microsoft to create a device capable
of showcasing all the progress it's made. For
the full timeline on Microsoft's purchase of
Nokia's devices division
Source
