Microsoft buys Nokia's devices unit in a $7.2 billion bid for its mobile future

[xxMATTGxx]

One of the most enticing "what-ifs" of recent years has come true: Microsoft has purchased Nokia's Devices and Services unit, bringing the Lumia lineup under the Redmond roof. The move unites Windows Phone 8 with its biggest hardware supporter, giving the company the integrated mobile offering it's been looking for with Surface and other devices. When the deal closes in the first quarter of 2014, Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion Euros for Nokia's business, plus another 1.65 billion Euros for its portfolio of patents. (The 5.44-billion Euro total is considerably less than Microsoft paid for Skype in 2011.) 32,000 people are expected to transfer from Nokia to Microsoft, including 18,300 that are "directly involved in manufacturing."

The purchase comes on the heels of what appeared to be a failed acquisition in June, at which point it seemed conversations had broken off entirely. Now the two come together, in what outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called "a bold step into the future." In an email, Ballmer cited the Lumia 1020 as an example of what the companies could do together, but said the phone hadn't caused the marketshare bump it deserved. "Now is the time to build on this momentum and accelerate our share and profits in phones," he wrote.

More Infomation at: http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/2/468...-windows-phone

[peteyt]

Makes sense with Microsoft wanting to get a larger share of the smartphone market.

Although I did expect them to do an Apple type phone, basically a Microsoft smartphone but they'd probably just brand it as a Nokia phone now (possibly)

[e5]

Just heard this on the radio. I was quite shocked to be honest!

[Yupt]

G.A.M.E C.H.A.N.G.E.R

I'm really excited to see how what they do next and how well it will all work out for them.

[peteyt]

Oh apparently part of the deal will be to use the Nokia brand on current mobile phones for 10 years at least