Nokia shareholders approve Microsoft €5.44 billion deal (Update)

Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop
Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Update 12 PM ET: It's official and the EGM is over. Shareholders have approved the deal between Microsoft and Nokia.

Nokia shareholders have today approved the Microsoft deal to purchase the company's phone division. The Financial Times reports that 99.7 percent of participating shareholders (around 5,000 attended the vote) were in favour of the deal going through. Microsoft will now integrate the Nokia division into Redmond, taking control of future Lumia and Asha products. 

The deal between the two tech giants is expected to be finalised during Q1 2014. Microsoft would then control both the Lumia and Asha lines of hardware currently produced by Nokia. The total cost of the deal will set Microsoft back €5.44 billion, with €3.79 billion for Nokia's handset business, €1.65 billion for the portfolio of patents and finally a four-year license for Nokia's HERE mapping service.

Redmond has funded Nokia €1.5 billion of "immediate financing" to help with cash flow. We spoke with Nokia's Stuart Ryan, Director of Maps and Everyday Mobility at HERE, last week who explained briefly how the Microsoft and Nokia partnership would continue to operate should the deal go ahead, with HERE services continuing to be utilised by Microsoft for Windows, Windows Phone and its Bing search engine.

As for the Lumia and Asha brands, it's still not clear what Microsoft plans to do, though the company has in the past revealed plans to unify branding.

Elop

This deal will also see Nokia CEO Stephen Elop return to Microsoft to lead the devices division. As for Microsoft itself, CEO Steve Ballmer is expected to step down and retire next year, though a replacement is yet to be officially named. Nokia's Elop is viewed as the favourite in the running for the position at Microsoft.

What will Nokia be left with post-takeover? The Finnish company will focus on Nokia Solutions & Networks (NSN - previously Nokia Siemens Solutions), HERE services and mapping, as well as a licensing and development division.

Source: FT; via: IBTimes

"Nokia Corporation, Stock exchange releaseNovember 19, 2013 at 19.06 (CET +1)Espoo, Finland -The Extraordinary General Meeting of Nokia Corporation held on November 19, 2013 ("EGM") decided to confirm and approve the sale of substantially all of Nokia's Devices & Services business to Microsoft in line with the proposal and recommendation of the Nokia Board of Directors. More than 99 % of the votes cast at the EGM were in favor of this proposal."This is a significant step forward for Nokia. We are delighted that shareholders have given us overwhelmingly strong support to proceed with this transformative agreement," said Nokia Board Chairman and interim CEO, Risto Siilasmaa. "Today's vote brings us closer to completing a transaction which will mark the beginning of the next chapter in Nokia's near 150-year history, offering the potential of greater value for shareholders," he said.The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction was originally announced on September 3, 2013. Further information on the transaction has been included in Nokia's releases concerning the transaction and the EGM dated September 3, September 19 and October 14, 2013 as well as the proxy materials that were made available ahead of the EGM."

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

285 Comments
  • /inb4 Android Nokia comments
  • :)can i make one ?
  • SAD . JUST SAD     TSK TSK TSK
  • Hope for the best all we can do its not that bad anyways.
  • Its great news actually. Especially if you're a Windows Phone enthusiast. Who wouldn't want the talent of this world class company in house. This is fantastic news.
  • Hello surface phone....January-February 2014 and guess what all those talented Nokia devices employees get to keep their jobs if they like instead of being laid off like blackberry employees. Trivia....could this mean Elop is the CEO???
  • Elop? Shareholders were not happy today.  They called him a "triple-A flop". http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/19/nokia-shareholders-approve-sale-microsoft  
  • I think it depends on how the integration will go. Could be good, could be bad. Too early to judge
  • A big difference between the usual acquisition like this is that the staff at Nokia and Microsoft have already been working closely with each other for almost 3 years.  Hopefully it will be even better going forward.
  • also the 929 is more or less a surface phone....
  • Uh, no! MS Would put out a much better looking phone than that.
  • And look at how slow Microsoft still moves for releasing updates. Over a year since WP 8 and 8.1 is still about 3-5 months away. Now that they don't have Nokia breathing down their neck, they might move even slower.
  • Obviously u don't realize that they have smaller updates like mango, tango, gdr1 2 & 3, and then blue. Most of the updates yes came from Nokia, but that doesn't mean ms will slow down the updates. They've updated the surface 2 already. So I'm sure they will do the same as Nokia to improve the smaller things in a phone like camera, battery and so forth.
  • Yeah, because the shutter speed is a major issue for me
  • What he means is, we are at GDR3 and we just got orientation lock...yeah it's 3 updates and we are still somehow behind on basic features. There are still a number of signficant standard features missing from the OS, the number of releases on their own say nothing. They are playing catch-up and need to be quick about it.
  • Microsoft could put some more talent into Windows Phone development, yes. But the GDR updates are equivalent to Android new version releases like 4.4. If calling this latest GDR update 'Windows Phone 8.3 Reeces Peanut Butter Cup' helps you enjoy it more, then go for it. 
  • Exactly.. Hopefully the only thing that will change is better synergy between the two, and Nokia will be replaced with Lumia on the front/top of new devices..
  • ⬆his.
  • It all depends on how Microsoft will continue the Windows Phone brand. If they decide to change the name of the Lumia line completely, like in Surface Phone or something, I think that would be bad. Windows Phone is gaining awareness in a lot of markets right now, and let's face it, that's all because of Nokia. The name 'Lumia' starts to ring a bell with consumers world wide right now. It would be a complete failure if they should discard that name.
  • I agree on the Lumia name. Surface for tablets, Lumia for phones.
  • No reason they can't create a Windows Surface Phone, and continue to make Lumia phones as well... Nokia's hardware division + Microsoft's = lots of hardware possibilities and production capabilities.
  • More likely XBox Phone and not Surface Phone etc
     
  • Should be intresting to see what microsoft do with the nokia side. Ive been very impressed with the Surfsce line and have a surface RT and this has replaced my home pc. I would like to see Microsoft make a surface phone and try and make it a business designed phone, Carry on the lumia side being the fun fonkey looking phone with great camers and bring in a xbox phone that is built for kids to game on and link with the xbox.   I could be way off and wrong but I think somethong like that for Microsoft could work out well for them.
  • I totally agree NIST❕❕.. This is great news, and now we don't have to worry about this talent possibly going anywhere in the future.. IOW.. Lumia devices are in no way threatened to become Android devices.. I just hope MS puts only the Lumia name on the front of the device, and if they do put MS on devices then they put it really small on the back.. That would be the smartest thing to do. I don't really want to see a Microsoft 1720, and I don't think anyone here does.
  • The will, haven't you noticed they removed the windows logo from the surface 2/Pro 2?
  • Absolutely! Not sure why so many people have a negative outlook on this... Now the question is, when will the next complete refresh of the Lumia (or whatever MS calls it) product line be? I'm talking 520 through to 920. I want a new phone but feel like I should wait for these probable new devices... Suppose they would come with the next big update of WP8..? Thoughts anyone?
  • The way I see it Nokia has very deep pockets now imagine what they can do and how they can influence the direction of the OS. I'm excited for this, now if they just sit on their hands then it'll be sad.
  • Lets hope Microsoft makes the best of this...fingers crossed
  • Yeah, this isn't a guaranteed slam dunk, that it'll work.   The last mobile acquisition Microsoft made, buying Danger, didn't work out so great, at all.
  • Apparently Danger wasn't a big player therefore would have made a big impact like Nokia
  • They also bought Skype, and its working well.
  • Not compared to Facetime, it doesn't. Development has more or less stopped since MS bought the company. Hope the Lumia story goes better.
  • I'd like to see them keep Nokia a separate division like Google does Motorola. I think you lose some innovation once you know your ass is no longer on the line.
  • It is done. Let the games begin!
  • Suck it, DJCBS!!
  • Sorry, I'm not your father. I don't do that.
  • Don't be mad DJCBS, you can hopefully go through this without busting a vein or two, on the other hand 99.7% votes in the favour of the deal totally rubbishes your weird theories about this deal getting shot down by shareholders, you are just a sad and bitter little troll on the internet :)
  • I thought it was 99.7 % of the share holders being present at the meeting with 78% of them approvong the deal.?
  • Read the article again.
  • I get what the article says, but I'm pretty sure some other blog posted saying that 78% of them approved the deal. I'm still looking for the source though.
  • No, 99.7% of the people approved it, like the article says. What you're thinking of is the fact that the .3% had 22% of the power, which is still a minority.
  • Found the source. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nokia-shareholders-set-back-microsoft-152059193.html "Nokia said more than 99 percent of participants were in favor of the deal in a pre-vote, representing some 45 percent of all votes and 78 percent of the 3,200 shareholders at the meeting being held in the Ice Hall — one of Helsinki's main hockey arenas." Just thought I'd clear it for some. According to the article 78% of the "shareholders" approved the deal. Or did I read it wrong.?
  • 99% of the present 78% of the total shareholders voted for the deal
  • LOL
  • Lets be rational here. This is a big loss for Europeans Nokia is one of europe's biggest tech companies. Also we have to see if the EU approves of this. Lets see how this goes a year from now before we cheer. I for one will miss Nokia very much but in the end its their own fault for not evolving so there was no choice but to do this they wouldn't have survived on their own.
  • Lets be rational here. DJCBS has commented about how he wishes Elop would kill himself. Don't defend the trolls. (:
  • DJCBS has wished death on both Elop and Ballmer just like a terrorist, very satisfying to see him cry so hard today :)
  • You would know how terrorists work
  • lmao
  • So, none of that matters now.. I guess we all ate just hoping that Lumia devices carry on as they have, and MS just simply calls them Lumia devices without any mention of MS.. Right❔..
  • Haha! What a childish response... Are you 12 years old or what?
  • Terrorist? I doubt he's CIA.
  • If we want to be rational, it isn't a 'loss' for Europeans. It can only be a gain. What was the alternative really? Let Nokia vanish? Or go the Android way (which is not European anyways)? Don't forget it was also the 'Europeans' themselves that embraced the iPhone and the countless Droids with arms wide open, which of course was the beginning of Nokia's downward spiral. At least in this way, the Nokia European talent will still get expression in new devices. The US is open to all, welcome Nokia and prove that you have what it takes, even within MS, come and prosper! :-). I'm rooting for them!
  • Lolzz! Though in reality, I do feel a little sad and worried. NOKIA is a household name I regards to devices. Getting rid of the "name" would be a mistake I think. Now that is if MS does.
  • This ^^^
  • Now if Nokia Lumias were rebranded to Surface Phones, that maybe a different story.
  • That would be lame, they should name them Lumia, Just Lumia. And change Nokia's ridiculous naming scheme. Nokia Lumia 2520? Dafawk?
  • Or have both a surface and Lumia line...
  • It could also be that they'll have "Lumia Surface" as the top of the line.
  • I would keep the lines separate. Maybe a Surface phone lineup of mid to high end phones. Lumia will stay low end and photography.
  • that seems a bit confusing. To ease consumer confusion: XBOX: Games and Media SURFACE: PCs, Tablets, and other Computing devices LUMIA: Smart Phones and Phablets this would be a lot easier then having both surface and lumia for phones, with one brand handling one class of smartphone and the other brand representing a different class. And perhaps better naming scheme. The numbers were working (520,620,etc...) till they threw the xx5's in there and the carrier variants (928, 810 [mistook for WP7 device by some due to name], etc...), and then it became a large mess. They need to shrink the amount of devices they make and how many are produced in a year (Example: 520 for low end, 720 for lower-mid range, 820 higher-mid range, 920 high end, then your additional "niche" devices {purview, phablets}, vs. the 10 - 12 devices they released with WP8 over the past year)
  • what wrong with Microsoft having a surface line of phones similar the Nexus line? What you're saying isn't bad, but I don't see anything wrong either way, keeping lumia line and adding a surface line as long as there is some differentiation between the two. I look at it as a class of devices, Lumia is good, but can easily be out classed by a surface phone. I know may Nokia fans don't want to hear that, but it true....Coming for a person who has 3 lumia 920 & an 822.
  • :(
  • don't know if this is good news or bad for windows phone..
  • Good news
  • +920
  • It's just too early to tell, so let's be positive.. That's the best thing to do in a situation like this..
  • Agreed, but I am of the opinion that MS has learned it lessons from: 1. Windows Mobile 2. Missing the Mobile boat This is why they made the initial deal with Nokia to make WP devices, knowing that at some point they woul have the oportunity to purchase outright due to the fact that they were alreadying financing their own device by way of Nokia. They also knew that if they have a chance to suceed, they were going to need more talented people onboard. This is almost a sure way they can avoid being left behind when traditional PC's become the  minority; it keeps them attached to both consumer and enterprise which are continually merging via BOYD (Bring Your Own Device); This is also why Windows 8 is the ultimate play, because eventually people won't be purchasing 3 device but 2..... a hybrid & a cell phone.
  • Here is when darth vader says: noooo!
  • Into exile I must go . . .
  • See ya
  • Soo... Prepare to switch to MSFTcentral or MicrsoftCentral ?
  • Uhh... Why?
  • Yeah I don't get why ether. Windows is already MS, what is your logic behind this. Please do explain I'm curious.
  • Tjey are writting about xbox, bing too
  • He is probably thinking that wp would die.
  • Fu(k logic
  • I can't wait to now see Windows Phone crash and die.
    For that's what'll happen.
    And I also hope MSFTs next CEO does proceed with cutting waste from the company. Sell Xbox and kill Bing. Because Windows Phone will follow Bing right away. In my house, a Nokia stronghold for almost two decades, all Windows Phones will be replaced by devices coming from Japan and running Android as soon as our current Nokia warranties expire. Without Nokia, no more WP will pass through our threshold. We rather leave underdeveloped OS and miserable support for fanatic fanboys.
  • Some days I'm convinced youre an enthusiast for windows phone like all of us. Other days im convinced youre who alfred warned us about... Something about wanting to see the world burn
  • I never said I was a WP enthusiast. I did support Windows Phone and many of its developers as long as there was a Nokia. For Nokia was the only single reason I ever used WP in the first place. Now that Nokia was destroyed by Microsoft's greed and complete lack of vision, you're right. I do want to watch the World burn. Microsofts mobile world, that is (I have no intention of leaving their best products, namely Windows, Office and even the Surface tablets)
  • But why?
  • Why am I not a WP enthusiast or why do I want to see MSFTs mobile burn?
  • The latter
  • Because they deserve it. Here's why I think they deserve it: over the last 3 years, Microsoft had the opportunity to bring to the mobile market a viable alternative to Android and iOS. Microsoft has the knowledge, the people and the money. They're neither strange to creating an OS neither to mobile devices. Yet, what have we seen in the last 3 years? We've seen a first year of a rudimentary OS with no visible user base at all. Enters Nokia. And for the next 2 years we see Microsoft still not developing its OS, leaving to Nokia the burden of making Windows Phone even noticed. In the meantime, Microsoft's original WP7 lacked so much that (and this is my belief) Nokia forced Microsoft to redesign the OS which lead to the existence of WP8. Yet, for all the "new" things WP8 brought, none of those "new" things were really new (apart from the aesthetic side), but things that every single OS in the market had (including the "burning Symbian"). GDR's 1 and 2 where both completely missed opportunities. GDR3 is the only update that has brought significant new features and I'm ready to bet that it was more to give a sign of fake "commitment" since it came after the announcement of September 3rd. 3 years and 2 incarnations later and Microsoft still hasn't developed WP to be, at least, on pair with the other major OS. For 2 years, Nokia has made all the work and put in all the effort to try and turn the WP experience less painful for users, by providing, along with the best hardware, tons of dedicated apps and features. What did Microsoft do? Nothing. They delayed WP8.1 to God knows when. On top of all of that, Microsoft has shown time and time again that WP is more a vanity project than anything else. They release apps first on iOS and Android (remote desktop comes to mind, and although I know it was targeted for use on iPads and Android tablets just like Windows has it, it's the principle of the thing), they haven't made a single effort to tie in and strengthen Xbox games on Windows Phone, being that, at least the Xbox 360, is one of its more popular products (not commenting on the Xbox One as it hasn't launched yet...though Sony sold 1 million PS4's in one day, so it will be hard). Actually, not only Microsoft didn't cared for that *unique* feature that was Xbox-titles on Windows Phone, they simply stopped caring to the point where even Gameloft seems to be dropping Xbox from their games. In 3 years, Microsoft hasn't shown any commitment to WP and left to Nokia the burden of building their platform for them. Nokia did it with the power of its corporate spirit (way different than Microsoft's) and through the power of their brand. Don't be fooled, albeit Nokia was never a big player in the US, Nokia was still the second biggest phone manufacturer in the World and its brand still has way more weight in very important markets such as Europe than Microsoft can dream to have. How did Microsoft repay Nokia? By taking the entire company under their protection? No. By leaving them be but strengthening their relationship? No. By butchering its core division, and leaving the rest to die. This is why I now want WP to crash and burn. Because Microsoft has proven unworthy of having a successful mobile OS. (note: this doesn't change in any way my very good opinion about the Surface tablets, nor my love for the Windows and Office platforms. So, no, I'm not at all a Microsoft-hater. But I don't worship them. And where I think they deserve to fail, I wish them to fail.)
  • TL;DR  Do you even realise that long ranty angry posts portray yourself as some sweaty angry techie nutjob devoid of rational emotion? Wanting a company to burn, or feeling this involved with how a product is delivered like they are somehow your family or people you know. Do yourself (and your blood pressure) a favour, if you like a product, buy it. If you don't like a product, don't buy it. Spending all this time dreaming up your nonsensical point of view and spewing bile all over your keyboard is not healthy, not welcome, not smart and just plain weird. Some maturing to do?
  • Whether people like it or not, DJCBS makes valid points. The ONLY reason I own the L920 is because of Nokia. I didn't get an IPhone or Android because I wanted to try something different. However, Nokia or not, my money isn't spent to support companies. It's for the product. Let me use a dumb example, If Apple, Android and Nokia/MS made a TV and all were around the same price range, but the Nokia/MS TV doesn't offer picture in picture then why in the world would I buy it? Because the future is said to look bright? Look bright now and I'll consider it. When it does look bright then i'll consider it then also.  I do like the WP and Nokia so I do hope this works out. However, as of now, they have failed. It's also unclear how things will turn out. I'll be waiting to get my new phone in early 2014 when all the new flagship phones should be coming out and I'll make my decision on product not company.  Blackberry is doomed just yet either. They got a billion dollars to move forward, new CEO and it looks like Android apps will be compatible.
  • i seriously agree with you. especially the point that it is MS's fault that Nokia ('s devices and services division) had to die this way.
    they had two freaking years when Nokia was giving them amazing hardware, but they didn't care much about the OS themselves. heck, even their services like local scout, xbox music+videos were so limited globally.
    they were lagging in updates. apps are a different story, but the OS was entirely in their hands.
    had they been working on it better, Nokia would have flourished again, along with WP.
    even with 1080p and more processor support, MS did not add anything new except an extra column of tiles. no stylus support, no functionality improvements, nothing. and Nokia could not add stuff beyond a limit, so its hands were tied.
    i honestly feel it was MS's plan to first weaken Nokia and then buy it and then finally deliver something (which i really hope they do) and this way they avoided Nokia android devices too, which would probably have been the best-selling devices ever (specially after people noticed what Nokia could do in terms of hardware with Lumias).
    so ya, well played MS. but now if you spoil the Lumia experience and don't deliver, screw you! though i don't know which phone i'll buy now.
    this is also why i bought a 925 to replace my 520, so that i can cherish Nokia forever. it is by far their sexiest design ever!
    Nokia forever! \m/
  • So what you're really saying is that you're a nokia "fanatic fanboy" and not a WP "fanatic fanboy"?
  • That's not a secret, I think... ;P
  • well I hope you understand that both are equally irrational
  • He's better described as a TROLL
  • And you as an idiot. So?
  • *Microsoft saved Nokia from destruction, and in turn Nokia saved Windows Phone
  • You are not a true Nokia fan. The whole Nokia is moving to MS, same old Nokia - ALL engineers who made yoru beloved phones for years, architects, designers, workers, sweepers .. everybody! If at all, all those cool engineers who made your Nokia phones just saved their jobs and the bleeding will stop. Buy a 10 cent "NOKIA" label from ebay and be happy. Just can't understand your logic.
  • Yawn......
  • This has been going on for months with DJCBS.If he's not happy with the Microsoft and Nokia deal then maybe it's time to move on to a different OS.It been said in articles nothing is going to change but the name on the phone.Nokia is still going building the phone people nothing has changed,but for some it's the name and not the quality of the hardware.Im guessing some of the guys on here would buy a rock if it had the Nokia branding on it:)
  • I rather base my opinion on my experience as a Microsoft consumer for decades than on what articles on the internet wishfully think. That's all.
    And yes, I would buy a rock if it was made by Nokia. I'm sure it would last longer than other rocks ;)
  • I've been buying Microsoft products for a really longtime to my friend.Wishfully thinking?These are straight from the horses mouth and not just fud.
  • So you prefer to believe in words instead of facts...fine. Sorry, but my only religion is Roman-Catholic. Microsoft is not my religion so I only trust on facts not on spoken/written dogmas.
  • Sorry your so called facts have been dead wrong and I'm a Atheists,lol.
  • I'm Roman Catholic and from what I've read on this forum from you, I've determined that you worship Nokia. Don't worry, I'll be praying for you..Peace Be With Your Spirit. I'm serious , no joking when it comes to God from me.
  • What do you not understand about NOKIA working under Microsoft name. The same customer experience is going to be under Microsoft, The same awesome phones, the same awesome indestructability. It's literally just a name change. And now windows phone is going to be much better and faster updates because Nokia is taking over.
  • You don't have any notion how corporate spirit works, do you?
    Let me make an analogy: occupied country. The buildings are the same, the people is the same. But the leaders aren't the same and so the spirit that drives the country isn't the same. When the spirit changes, that reflects on the products.
    Or just look at Apple with Steve Jobs and without Steve Jobs. Apple was doing downhill until Jobs returned to the leadership of the company. Yet, the company was the same, the employees were the same. But the leader, the spirit that drove it, wasn't.
  • Stephen Elop will be leading the devices division. They will have the same leader...
  • Except:
    1 - Nokia's management under Eflop was nothing but a fail;
    2 - there's the chance Eflop goes to CEO of Microsoft. Which means he won't be actually leading the devices team (which would be good for Microsoft, actually, as the man is clearly inept to run a devices division properly)
  • +1. Good analogy.
  • What other rocks, as Microsoft has never made a mobile phone nor a rock; they've alway depended on manufacturers
  • lol I don't think you got the point, mate. It was an answer to the previous poster who wrote "some of the guys on here would buy a rock if it had the Nokia branding on it:)"
    I said yes, I would buy a rock made by Nokia. Because I trust Nokia's quality. I've always had and if they get to their senses and in 2016 buy Jolla and return to smartphones, I will still trust them. Trust is something a company only builds with years.
    I don't distrust Microsoft's ability to produce good hardware. I've said it a hundred times: I really like the Surface, and my mouse, keyboard and webcam are ALL manufactured by Microsoft.
    But, as Bill Gates himself once said (along side Steve Jobs) the core of everything is software. And I don't trust Microsoft to deliver a mobile OS at least on pair with Android and iOS, specially once the only one that was forcing them to innovate - Nokia - gets out of the picture.
    And there's no point in saying "oh but the teams are the same". The Nokia employees who agree to move to MSFT will not call any shots around the place. The orders will come directly from Redmond. If you think Microsoft will leave the Nokia Team alone in Finland and let them run things from there...you're sorely mistaken.
  • nice trolling....
  • Great.  Now please delete your WP Central account as well.  Goodbye.
  • Ha ha ha ha!!! DJCBS cry, cry harder. Your tears are so delicious :)
  • Ah, Etios...how I've missed you. But you're still not Cartman ;)
  • NASTY!!!!!!
  • What's Nasty Mr. Deaconclgi?? DJCBS, That bitter, sad little troll was nasty by shitting in each and every thread related to Nokia-Microsoft deal. DJCBS wishing death on both Elop and Ballmer like a terrorist was NASTY!! But why am i explaining these things to you, you are mynokiablog editor, you will obviously gloss over these nasty things and support the hate-spewing trolls.
  • I was talking about the part where you said "Your tears are so delicious", I visualized it in a literal sense and thinking about someone tasting another persons tears is extremely nasty to me. Yes, I know you are not actually tasting tears but hey, that is so nasty in my mind that it deserved all caps and a host of exclamation marks. Thank you for mentioning my position at mynokiablog, in all of my writings throughout the years, have you ever seen me gloss over nasty things people say or support the hate-spewing trolls? Really...I honestly challenge you to point out any instance of me glossing over or supporting trolls. Here is my author page: http://mynokiablog.com/author/deaconclgi/ When any disrespect is brought to my attention and the level is severe enough to warrant moderation or encouragment/reminder to treat people respectfully, I make the effort to do so. WPC isn't a site that I write for so I am not in a position to make any decisions based upon DJCBS's comments but I can guarantee you have never and will never see me KNOWINGLY support ANY of his or anyone elses nasty, hateful or trolling remarks on this site, MyNokiaBlog or any site or even in person. For the record, I am firmly against trolls of any kind and any harmful undertones, bashing or disrepect to any reader as we all have our opinions but respect is a must. I am fair across the board and I call right: right and wrong: wrong. I have pointed out Nokia's faults, Microsoft's faults, developer's faults, even my own faults in articles that I have written and have done my best to correct every single fault that is brought to my attention.   With that said, I take the accusation that you believe that I will gloss over nasty things that he has said and support hate-spewing trolls seriously as I have a reputation to uphold as I am a real person with a life, career and family. When DJCBS is wrong, he is wrong, when he is right, he is right, just like everyone else and I will never knowingly support anyone that I know is wrong and especially anyone that is trolling. If I have supported those things in the past, point them out to me and I have no problem correcting them. Thank you for your comment and next time, I will reply with more than one word because just typing "NASTY!!!!!!" without further explanation as to what I am referring to leads to miscommunication. Deaconclgi
  • I understand what you're saying I have had many Nokia phones in the past which were Symbian and S40. But we have to wait and see what happens. The plan on paper is good lets see if it is executed properly.
  • I commend your optimism. Unfortunately I've been a Microsoft consumer for longer than more than many here (I still remember the days when the OS was MS-DOS). I know how their corporate spirit works. After the hit they'll get by simply removing the name "Nokia" from the phones, they'll start to meddle with the way the old Nokia team works (well, the ones who accept to go to MSFT...which doesn't include, for a start, the guy who designed the Lumias). The sales will shrink and they'll keep losing money on the phones until their shareholders decide it's enough and they put an end to the project they never really cared about for a start.
  • If you really understood MS you'd know that they'll just keep throwing money at it until they win. E.g. Xbox original looked doomed for years, until they poured money into exclusives, heavy marketing & selling at a loss. WP will thrive because it is of utmost importance to MS and they have money to burn.
  • Like they threw at Zune? And WM? And Ensemble Studios? And Surface computing? Etc etc? Yeah...you better revisit MSFTs record ;)
  • Keeping Zune alive would've been the biggest mistake. It's HARD to build a new ecosystem, especially one just for "MP3s". The iPod is merely sold.
  • Yet iTunes still thrives.
    I don't dispute Zune was well put to death. God knows if there was something I sherished about WP8 was that I could get rid of that bloody program.
    Anyway, that's exactly the point: building an ecosystem is hard, building two (WP+RT and W8) is even harder. Windows Phones don't sell enough to be profitable for Microsoft. With Nokia gone and the almost certain decresase in sales because of that, the situation won't get any better. The most logical thing for a Microsoft CEO to do is to shut it down. Just like Bing. And you can bet that if Alan Mulally or anyone with a likewise strategy is nominated (Microsoft had a metting today about that ) as CEO, along with the sale of Xbox and the demise of Bing, WP will follow. It's way easier and securer for Microsoft to bet on Windows and Office (through not only offer to other platforms but also by betting on making tablets, PCs and laptops) than to try and keep afloat an OS that has to compete with the following and power brand of Apple, and the smashing number of Androids.
    Microsoft is good in software, ie Office and Windows. They can turn into a devices company, sure, but that doesn't mean they have to offer every single device.
  • No! What you fail to realize is that you don't wait for events to catch up to you before you make your transformation! Let me elaborate a little: You say MS should focus on just Windows and Office right? Cut off Bing, Xbox, WP -- I'll tell you that is a recipe for eventual death. The tech world is the most volatile and capricious of all industries today, every CEO realizes that. Why do you think Apple doesn't just kill off the Apple TV and just sit on the iPhone, iPad and iPod, heck do away with the Mac while they are at it too, afterall they only have what 5% of PC sales? Recently they acquired the company rumoured to be originally behind kinect. What do you think they are up to? Google is trying to offer their Chrome OS. Why do you think they bother? Afterall they are the Sovereign of Search, own Android and several other awesome services. Or Amazon and the Kindle, and their rumoured 'phone'. There is only one rule of survival, keep moving, keep growing or keep dying. It might not be obvious at the beginning, but it would happen eventually. Do you know Intel was originally a memory maker? before the microprocessor eventually took off, and that the microprocessor was a saving grace for them at the time when the Japanese companies were edging them out of the memory business, something which started as a relatively small unit at Intel back then? This is life. Never ever relax or rest on your successes, you would be down and out before you know what hit you. Nokia's experience should be enough of a lesson!
  • +1
  • I would happily see the demise of Bing. The most infuriating thing about MS is that they are so US-focused and only make half-arsed efforts for the rest of the world. Bing is a shining example of how it works great for people in the US (apparently) and is mediocre at best in other countries. Perhaps they'll be able to throw more money at it, but I'm still not convinced.
    I don't think they'd ever get rid of Xbox - it's too important to 'owning the loungeroom'. The same for WP, it's too strategically important to them. The PC market is changing, and moving from a fixed desktop platform to mobile devices, tablets and entertainment areas. You can be sure that MS want to be wherever it goes to capitalise on it. Because if they don't, then the likes of Google and Apple will destroy them into insignificance.
  • With the purchase of Nokia we could see some Bluetooth and MP3 devices down the road.Just a thought :)
  • no way..i want to see great cameras..great DSLR's
  • Microsoft isn't Sony. I wouldn't count on a single DSLR being produced in Redmond. Furthermore, Nokia keeps the PureView patents (it keeps all the patents actually). So even though Microsoft could theoretically license patents from Nokia, nothing prevents them from licensing PureView to other companies. And you know what? Although if anyone should license the technology should be Sony for their DSLR, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Galaxy S5 ou S6 or the next Galaxy Zoom would come with a Nokia PureView camera...
  • Hmm...I'm not sure Microsoft will try that path again...specially with the MP3 players. More established brands on the area - like Creative - are barely alive. Even the iPod is being replaced by the iPhone and other phones.
  • As someone outside the US I don't see how they threw any money (comparatively speaking) behind Zune. If you're talking about the Zune players, they only existed in the US and Canada, and they made no effort to release them worldwide. The Zune software, passes, and ability to buy music & videos only started to launch worldwide exactly 2 years ago! That has now transitioned into Xbox Music so it's not a lost cause or wasted effort. The same for Windows Mobile - it reigned supreme until Apple caught MS with their pants down as they'd underappreciated the power of the consumer market. WM became Windows Phone (made from the last Zune OS actually) so it's also not really a wasted effort. I do wonder if those Surface tables will be like Microsofts tablet efforts... i.e. it was too early for the market, and too expensive. I recall them being quite amazing, but only very wealthy people and companies could buy one. I would expect a similar thing launched today would be much more affordable. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a revival of it, probably lead by Apple after they "invent" it! Haha
  • Of course they'll take the name Nokia off of the phone. It's not Nokia's property anymore. That's just common sense. You should try to use it some time.
  • Oh it is? That's why they're licensing it for feature phones? Yeah...great common sense...
  • ^ this. Not putting the Nokia name on the Lumia line can hurt sales.
  • show me where it says they are licensing the nokia name for the asha line. and i dont want a speculation article.
  • Go to Nokias website, or to the Financial Times. There you'll find the official text of the deal where all that is explained. Or go to YouTube and hear it from the mouth of Eflop himself at the press conference in September.
  • i have. and there's still no details on microsofts plans for the naming of the devices, that includes the asha line. so again, show me an article that is not speculation that says microsoft will keep the nokia name on the asha line.
  • http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/18750_Nokia_shareholders_appro... read the end of the article
  • i have read it as i already said. did you notice the words "the indications are" or "it seems likely". these are speculative terms. so my question still stands. as i've already said, noone really knows yet.
  • If MS really doesn't use Nokia brand on the Lumia's, it indicates that their BoD is full of s***heads. Nokia = quality, everyone knows that. What's the point of using Nokia brand on featured-phones only, whilst they want to push more WPs out?
  • Here, the proxy materials provided BY NOKIA to the shareholders http://i.nokia.com/blob/view/-/3006738/data/3/-/Proxy-materials.pdf Page 28 (32 on the readers counting): "Microsoft has also agreed to a 10 year license arrangement with Nokia to use the Nokia brand on current and subsequently developed Mobile Phones products based on the Series 30 and Series 40 operating systems. After the Closing, Nokia would be restricted from licensing the Nokia brand for use in connection with mobile device sales for 30 months and from using the Nokia brand on Nokia’s own mobile devices until December 31, 2015."   The S30 and S40 are the Asha series, ie, feature phones. Only in 2016 can Nokia license its brand to others or use it themselves on mobile devices (on, hopefully, the phones produced with the acquisition of the Nokia-funded Jolla). Whether, after the deal closes (assuming MSFT shareholders don't vote against it and European authorities don't veto it) Microsoft enters a further agreement with Nokia to license the use of the Nokia brand on smartphones too, it's something that will have to be seen.
    Ballmer talked of "unifying the brand"...but they'll probably first to a study on the impact that taking the Nokia brand from WP will have. And only then decide if they want to get that license too (as any CEO with a brain would do) or try to sell people a "Windows Lumia", "Lumia Surface" or whatever they come up with.
  • You have a point but this a "new" Microsoft so I'm being optimistic right now. The one thing I will mid is the Nokia tune,...
  • We haven't seen a "new" Microsoft yet...well, anyway, I won't prevent your optimism of course. As for the Nokia tune, did you know that it was taken from a song by composer Francisco Tárrega called "Gran Vals"? Yeah ;)
    Also, Nokia is the only mobile OEM that has ever had a Waltz composed by an Hungarian composer, based on their signature tune and using a Nokia phone as part of the orchestra.
  • This I know its a cool fact.
  • "the way the old Nokia team works" - And where exactly did this get them? You seem to view MS as some kind of big, dark, enemy bent on Nokia's destruction. If Nokia was so great on their own, how did say the iPhone for instance displace them, even on their own turf? Wake up man, Nokia did themselves in, not MS. If there is anyone to blame here, it's Nokia's 'old' way of thinking that put them in this position.
  • Why from Japan when you can stay in Finland and buy a Jolla phone? Good old MeeGo and android compatibility.. The phone that Nokia should have went with some years ago (N9 ftw)..
  • Jolla isn't selling outside of Finland. But I'm keeping an eye on them...and on what the corpse of Nokia will do with them in the future.
    But until then, there's only one OEM whose phones are a worthy successor for Nokia: Sony.
  • Good now go away then.
  • Yes i like Sony also.
  • ditto. There was the time when Nokia and Sony were dominating phone market. When I look for a phone, it is not a Nokia it must be a Sony.
  • I don't agree with everything you're saying, and I really don't like how you're acting,, but I do agree that Sony makes the best devices besides Nokia.. I would love for Sony to make WP devices.. Nevertheless, maybe the smart thing for all of us not to do right now is speak to soon.. DJCBS, we all have our worries, and hopes, about how MS will handle this, but in all fairness most of the blunders that MS has had were things of the past, and in recent times they seem to be doing a lot of things differently, and in the right way.. But, I do understand your logic, and it's not entirely unreasonable.. I think that it just sounds a little panicky on your part.. Look, can you meet me halfway on this please❔ I admit that I'm not 100% sure that things will work out for the better, so can you admit that you're not 100% sure that things will workout for the worst❔Can you please give me that, my friend❔And, if so, then can't you just sit back and see how everything pans out with the rest of us❔ There's really no need to go taking action just because of this news,, I mean we are really just talking about mobile devices here, right❔.. Lol.. It's not like the government just passed some bill that's going to spiral 80% of the public into poverty.. Lol. Think about how funny it is that we get so passionate about this smartphone stuff. Heck, there's been times when I, myself, has been ready to rip someone's head of here on WPC for calling me out. Stupid right. Lol.. Come on DJCBS,, don't do us like that man. You've been a big contributer of your opinion here on WPC, and you're a smart guy.. Let's all just step back and be patient, that's all I ask.. Ok❔
  • Ok, I'll meet you half-way.
    Of course there's a chance WP can succeed without Nokia. It will be way harder, but it has a chance, however small, to happen. But I not like this at all and I obviously "panic" for a good reason: for almost 2 decades I've bought nothing but Nokia phones, after my first phone being an Alcatel (remember them?) and my second being an Ericsson T10s (way before Ericsson joined with Sony and then leaving Sony). Nokia has been trusted with the management of my life's affairs ever since. I've bougth a new Nokia almost every year (and in 2013 alone I've bought 3 Lumias...a 620, a 920 and a 1020 a couple of days ago, to use only as a camera). Now what do I have left? Nothing. When I go to buy my next phone, what will I get? Microsoft's lack of support from their own OS doesn't leave me willing to keep with WP (see a long comment I made above regarding why I'm so..."disappointed"...with WP). I loath Apple products and I loath the simple idea of being forced to use iTunes to everything. Do I turn to Samsung? Definitely not. My sister moved from Nokia to Samsung a few years back and I've seen the "Samsung quality". It sucks. Big time.
    Sony is all I have left...but the damn thing doesn't seem to get their act straight with regards to their camera technology (they already had to release an update to the camera software to correct the over-processing of the 20.7mp shooter) and lateness of OS releases (the Z1 still has Android 4.2.2...is set to receive 4.3 and 4.4 in the future...when? No one knows...meanwhile they're preparing the Z2 already with 4.4 on board...). Will Microsoft be able to produce phones to match the Nokia quality? Maybe. The Surface is amazingly built and I've said it before, I'm not really concerned about the design or construction of future MS phones if they arrive with the quality of the Surface. But support wise? I'm not convinced AT ALL.
    Well and then there's the lack of the "Nokia" branding on the phones that will certainly harm sales in Europe. But I'm repeating myself.
    Also...how much will Microsoft license from Nokia? We heard about the HERE suit...but there hasn't been a single word about the licensing of PureView and all the patents related to the camera. Those remain with Nokia. Will I, in the future, consider coming back to Windows Phone? I honestly don't know. After the demise of Nokia and the end of my devices warranties, I'll certainly be moving to Sony (I may get one before that but I'll still carry the Nokias around). Maybe Microsoft will convince me to go back to WP by developing way faster WP and presenting me with phones up to the Nokia-standard. Or maybe not.
    Currently and based on passed experience with Microsoft, my feeling is that the later will happen. By the way...I WISH blunders were things from the pass...but Microsoft has had a few this year alone! First W8 was far from well received by the consumer (and rightly so, IMO. W8.1 is way better) and they had to revert path specially to keep Windows on PC's and laptops.
    Then they had that MONUMENTAL disaster that was the announcement of the Xbox One. That alone, albeit the obvious reverse they had to do, already tainted the Xbox One's image to the point that even Sony's removal of streaming and CD playing capabilities from the PS4 didn't prevent them from selling 1 million consoles in just 1 day.
    And then you also have the overpriced launch of the first batch of Surface tablets that were clearly underpowered. And before that, the entire WP7 not being upgradable to WP8 fiasco, with 7.8 being released and stopped and re-released and then it was only cosmetics.
    These are the kinds of things that don't leave me a shred of optimism in what concernes future "MicroPhones".
  • the length of some of your comments make some of mine look like small talk... and ive made numerous long comments before.... but never this long.
  • Well, I think the point of comments is to debate. I know some people around here think comments should only serve as a place of worship. I disagree. But, because I like to explain WHY I don't like something, my posts tend to go long.
  • I don't have a problem with long comments.. Some people just have to find something to bitch about.. I like to stay on topic.. And, your comments are articulated just fine,, even if some don't agree with them..
  • Fair enough. But, the things you don't like about Apple, Samsung, and Sony phones have already been proven to you, and nothing yet is written in stone about what future Lumia devices will be like, and if the current support for those devices will change for the worst.. Yet instill you are ready to move to something that you really don't want for something that is currently working for you for the mist part, and is showing no sing of change but the name.. That doesn't make any sense.. Sorry, that's not meeting me halfway like you said you would..
  • Hey, I didn't say I don't like Sony phones. On the contrary. I just said that I wished they would fasten up a bit (which they might as Sony's CEO has announced the intention of focusing more in the European market instead of the US...which is good for me, as I'm European). Here's the thing: currently, WP isn't really working for me. I'm sick of the lack of features, of the lack of Apps, of the lack of support from Microsoft itself (the latest being the total careless abandonment of the Xbox-Games effort). I bought WP because of Nokia and what Nokia brings: great construction, durability, imaging capabilities and continued support.
    You're right about nothing being written in stone. But see if you can follow me: imagine you were at MSFT. You just bought an entire team that worked a certain way based on certain values. That way and those values are completely the opposite of your ways. Since you're the boss, would you change your ways? Or the teams? The answer is,  99% of the times, "the teams".
    Microsoft is known for liking things done "the MSFT way". That started right from the beginning of the contract when they purposely decided to not get the "Nokia" brand for smartphones. That indicates to me that, in MSFT's perception, it was Nokia's modus operandi that was the problem. Which we all know it wasn't. But there you have it (are you surprised? I'm not. Ballmer also lives under the delusion that people called the phones "Nokia Lumia Windows Phone xxxx". Which no one does but him.)
    They want to "Microsofy" the Lumia phones. What does that mean? We don't know. But the WP team's track record is less than desirable.
    Now, I also left it clear (I think) that I still intend to keep my Nokias running Windows Phone around at least until their respective warranties expire (which is January 2015 for the L920, April 2015 for the L620 and November 2015 for the L1020). Will I keep them after? Most likely. I still have all my other Nokia phones and I still pick one up once and a while when I need to concentrate on something (yeah, there's no concentrating with a smartphone nearby). The L1020, while I have absolutely no intention of making it my daily driver (the L920 will remain at its post) I will most likely be using it pass that date because, basically, its my camera.
    But as a daily driver, the L920 won't last for longer than the 2 years of legal warranty the EU imposes on manufacturers
    I'm not ready to move on from Nokia. I don't think I'll ever be. It was the brand I held dearest and closest to my heart (and yes, that's awfully materialistic but I AM awfully materialistic and have no shame in admitting it. Some people like flowers, others like dogs...I like my gadgets). But I'll have no alternative than to move on (unless, of course, my wish to see Nokia return to devices in 2016 comes true) and yes, I will with 90% certainty move on to Sony as its the only other OEM I know I can trust (I have a 20 year old TV from them that still works and my PS2 and PS3. The other 10% are divided between LG (the brand of my LCD, BD players and touch screen monitor) and Asus (the core of my PCs and laptops).
    None of them can replace Nokia. I'm most certain of that. But neither can Microsoft (and again, I have tons of MS stuff both hardware and software). In this case Microsoft has the disadvantage of not caring about WP and having disappointed me immensely with it (yes, in the beginning, when the Nokia/MS partnership was announced, I was really happy as I thought MS would bring to Nokia a mobile equivalent of Windows...which wasn't really what happened).
    So I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the hardware, based on the quality of the Surface line. But I don't trust them enough to keep with WP after Nokia and when my Nokia phones no longer manage to serv me properly.
    UNLESS, of course, by some miracle, during 2014 Microsoft does a 180º shift, tons of Apps are added to the marketplace and WP8.1 is a MASSIVE update (and not another 7.8...which so far its what it looks like) that completely changes the entire WP platform making it more flexible, app friendly and customizable (no, I'm actually not even among those who want a notifications centre. But I want, for example, a quick settings launch like Android and now iOS have so that I don't have to go through several menus to turn on and off every feature). Also, they need to license and keep the camera quality of Nokia. Which is something we don't even know if it will happen as there's absolutely no information about any intention of licensing the PureView technology from Nokia (and THAT would actually help the brand issue...all they had to do was to put the Nokia branding on the back next to the camera. That wouldn't go against the "unified branding" and would still keep the Nokia branding where Nokia deserves credit...while at the same time, letting consumers know that that phone had Nokia technology).   So here's the plan: as long as Nokia stands, I stand by them. As long as my Nokia devices are within the legal warranties, I'll still have a Windows Phone. In the meantime, it's likely that my daily driver will become a Sony Android precisely because of the WP deficiencies I'm mentioned. If MSFT truly changes their behaviour towards WP, then maybe I'll return to the platform even without Nokia around. But, again, I'm the consumer. It's Microsoft that has to prove me that they deserve my patronage, not I that have to deserve to use Microsoft's products. (Final note - yeah I know these comments always get too long - I loath Apple and Samsung. I truly do. Apple because the OS is horrible, the iPhones are the same since 2007, the way to manage the device (through iTunes) is a nightmare and they're just overpriced for what they are. And Samsung because they clearly have no concern for the quality of their hardware and don't bother to offer pieces to cheap plastic for 800€.)
  • Ok. I can respect that. That's a valid opinion.. I see where you're coming from and I hope it all works out for you.. I understand that it is sad that a trusted brand of yours is no more.. But, I hope that MS proves us all wrong. That's all I can say.
  • DJCBS, I think your logic is sound, which makes for a great read, but I challenge some of the historical events you use as premises. To be fair, I don't know that you're mistaken, but I believe the following: 1. Microsoft (not Nokia, as you suggested in your earlier comment) drove the core architectural change between Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8. They did this not on a whim, but as part of a long-term strategy to integrate its OS's. Windows Phone 8 is now based on the NT kernel, just like desktop Windows. This took a lot of work, and some Windows Phone 7 features were even lost, but it was the right thing to do long-term, enabling FASTER (not slower) updates and feature additions. 2. According to MS, and it rings true to me, the reason for the light feature additions/fixes since WP8 came out were because they needed to focus most of their efforts on adding hardware support. For this I do credit Nokia for pushing MS in terms of what hardware MS needed to support. But this also means that Nokia was (for all the right reasons, so this is not a criticism) effectively responsible for the lack of additional features in WP. 3. IF WP now has sufficient hardware support (an IF to which I don't know the answer), then going forward, with so much of the hardware and driver support just to get caught up in that regard now behind them, it would be reasonable to expect acceleration in feature additions. This won't be a credit to either MS or Nokia, but rather a natural byproduct of completing their work in other areas and now being able to turn their large but still limited resources more toward feature development. If you factor these in as your base premises, I don't would reach the same conclusions about MS being the development albatross around Nokia's neck. Except, I agree 100% with your criticism of their handling of XBox on Windows Phone. That smacks of some senior executive somewhere in the chain thinking XBox just doesn't matter to WP and vice versa.
  • Hey you know what? Atari was a big household name in my house at one time, now its Xbox. If Xbox bought Atari and all the games, would you be happy or sad to have all that available on your Xbox exclusively?
  • Thing is, Microsoft didn't bought all of Nokia. I've said it before, if they had proposed to buy the entirety of Nokia, I wouldn't oppose the deal. Because it was a smart deal (much like they bought Skype and Google bought Motorola).
    Microsoft did nothing of a kind. They prefered to butcher Nokia.
  • The only thing that's butchered is your opinion of the matter. The fact is, despite all of your hate about the subject, none of your efforts have had any affect on the outcome. Continue to waste your time.
  • I don't get this rationale?  They bought 100% of the Nokia devices division, the part of the company that makes the phones that you have so much loved until now.  How would buying the whole company have made it any different for you? BTW, Google didn't really buy all of Motorola.  Prior to the Google acquisition, Motorola split into two different companies; Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions.  Google only bought the Motorola Mobility part, which is the equivalent to the Devices Division that Microsoft is purchasing from Nokia.  The Motorola Solutions part is the equivalent to what is the remaining entity that is Nokia will be.  So really, you need to reevaluate your opinion on this deal, especially if you are going to reference Google in any way here.
  • this is the whole point of his trolling. saying things without actually knowing what he is talking about. if he did then he would have known about the motorola google deal and not used that as an example. he's just blindly typing. it not only makes him a troll, but a clueless troll. doesnt get much lower than that.
  • Microsoft hasn't bought any of the patents, for example. They will license SOME patents. Which? No one knows.
    Besides: corporate spirit. That's what changes (please search my other comments as I've explained my view on this already and I don't wish to keep repeating myself)
      Also: Google bought the Motorola brand. Which makes all the difference. "Microsoft" phones don't sell. "Nokia" phones do. People identify the "Nokia" branding. "Microsoft" has a big image problem which hasn't changed at all. So ultimately, not buying the entire company - and therefore the brand - is stupid even for the good of Microsoft.
  • Again. Not true. Microsoft bought the patents related to the Lumia and Asha phones, at least the design related patents. You are correct that is not entirely clear what patents they will own and which ones they will license upon the deal close.
    I would like to see an acceptance by you that you were wrong about the Google purchase of Motorola. You can't go throwing around false statements without being called out.
  • To be fair, he clearly said Google is able to use the Motorola brand, MS is not. I share my worry with him - I have never bought any phones other than Nokia's. I love Microsoft's tech and WP8 too, but the Nokia logo is so strong - like a belief about quality. 'Microsoft' phone just doesn't cut it.
  • Go on a killing spree already, poor narcissist.
  • I'm not American.
  • That's even worse then lol. If you were American it may have been understandable. 
  • I'm not sure your fellow Americans would like to know you think its "understandable" to go on a killing spree because you're American =P (The NRA though...those would say it was my constitutional right! to go on one)
  • You're right, but I was talking about the narcissism. 
  • Like you, I only started using WP because of Nokia. A lot of people probably did. Let's hope Microsoft continues on the same path as Nokia, especially on the software side. Lots of features missing. If not, they're doomed!
  • Does Microsofts track record regarding improvements to WP leave you confident in that?
  • From Windows Mobile to Windows phone 8, I've seen major improvements were have you been?
  • ⬆This⬆... I never thought about it like that..
  • So Microsoft's plan for "improving" the platform is constantly releasing new, incompatible versions of the OS? Oh, that's smart. That's really smart. Specially when even on Windows they're now starting to roll out updates for free.
    Also...where has Microsoft been, that they managed to release an OS that lacked things that where available on phones for years already?
  • New incompatible versions of the OS? That sounds like Google to me,lol. It takes time for a OS to mature.Did Apple and Google become big over night? No!Give it a break with all the assumption of what might happen. Microsoft had to do a complete rebuild of the OS to compete.What were they suppose to do?Sit on WP7 and hope for the best?
  • From Windows Mobile to Windows Phone 7 and from Windows Phone 7 to 8. That's three different platforms Microsoft has released, always dumping the former one and its users. Neither Google nor Apple did that. In fact, when it comes to Google, if they actually did that, perhaps not so many people would complain about "lagdroid" because they wouldn't be throwing update upon update upon update on the same phone. But MS abandoned WP7 barely two years after releasing it and a year after the first Lumias came out. And the promised support for 7.8 is nowhere to be seen (which makes me feel sorry for people who, unknowingly, bougth WP7 devices in 2013...which happens because they're still being sold).
     
  • Really?My brothers MyTouch 4G that's barley a year old isn't going to see the 4.3 or 4.4 update.So don't talk about Google support for devices it's nonexistent for many devices that are not that old.Shit,my sisters GS3 is still running 4.2 and older Apple devices don't get updates either, so stop it .Without WP8 and GRD we would not have the 1020 or the 1520 from Nokia.Microsoft could not compete with WP7 plain and simple.I know you're not in favor of the deal between Microsoft and Nokia,but it is what it is:)
  • You're a freaking troll DJCBS. That's all you are here. But I suppose the internet would not be the same without trolls... Oh no wait, that's right, the internet would be GREAT WITHOUT TOOLS LIKE YOU
  • Yes he's a troll but can we all stop encouraging him to troll by just ignoring him?
  • -520
  • Hahahahahahahahahahahahah cry crryyyyy I looovve these tearsss Muhuhuhuahuahauahahauhaua
  • Originality: not your thing.
  • Thinking straight: Not your thing
  • Lol I'm propably the only one to agree with you on this page
  • RIP DJBS!! till now you are accepted and digested here because of your loyalty(everyone who used a mobile phone have tht loyalty) towards Nokia. But you have strong hate towards Microsoft and your terrorist troll comments are soo funny. you had theories of deal fail and you bashed everyone against you. NOW WHAT?? Ballmer and Elop are going to die in car crash tomorrow? any other concrete foresights from you? If you have true loyalty on nokia, you will stand like now and you should support nokia on its future, because nokia is not dead. But, by your troll comments i think you will come to WPcentral often and you will continue your hate towards MS and windowsphone without shame. leave assumptions of MS' next ceo procceedings and mind your own business. And you dont have to bark here hereafter.  If you continue to troll here, you will be considered as mentally retarded.
  • There must be something we haven't heard of yet for 99% investors to approve of the deal.
  • I liked that comment earlier where someone said. Oh Microsoft will throw money at WP. But they didn't throw money at Zune. IPod was dominate in the MP3 market just like Apple and Android are dominate in the Phone OS market are they not?
  • Wow. You're a brand whore
  • ok so instead of windows devices made by the same nokia team that made you curent phones you now turn to some cheesy android device ? ms is changed and time will tell if it works or not . but i think ms didnt throw in all the cash just for fun. i guess they stil be bringing good devices in some years . it juts says ms on the back instead of nokia . windows phone is good now so why should it not be good in the future .wierd point of view you have dude.
  • Well since you feel that way, I hope Microsoft moves all factories out of your region leaving economic hardships for your community seeing as you don't care that this sell prevent unemployment and provides a means for your fellow citizens to earn a living.
  • Microsoft moves all factories from my region?
    I wasn't aware Microsoft had any factories in Europe. They're all in China.
    Next time...think twice before you write stuff like that. Or buy a map. Maybe Miss South Carolina 2007 wasn't that wrong regarding the need to buy maps ;)
  • OMG55 hopes that Microsoft moves all the acquired Nokia mobile phone factories out of Europe. You're maybe right that Microsoft doesn't have factories in Europe but they have mobile phone factories acquired from Nokia which they can do anything with, even moving them out to Redmond.
  • Seriously buddy...no one gives a crap about your "threshold" of a home. You sound like such an obnoxious douchebag in just about every one of your comments here. You've been a Microsoft consumer for years? Good for you. That doesn't mean you have the slightest idea of "how their corporate spirit works," as you so arrogantly put it. You make it sound like anyone here gives two shits about what your holier-than-thou self uses in your house. We get it, you hate the deal that's going to happen, so you sit here and contribute nothing but MS bashing in these comments. You're done with Windows Phone? That's GREAT! Now you can stop coming here and sounding like such a condescending prick all of the time. If there's a single positive thing to come out of this acquisition, it's that you won't have something to bitch about anymore or that you'll be forced to find something else. Move on and go find some other shit to cry about, which will no doubt be something Microsoft does that you can't stand, simply because they are Microsoft.
  • I could use some immediate funding Microsoft. Especially to pay for all your products I love
  • Pretty relieved
  • Sad! Now its downhill from here on out. Xbox won't support their own company's mobile OS, doubtful any other Microsoft division is going to give a toss.
  • Actually its in their company rewards program to care for other divisions. Shows today with the Xbox one smartglass app releasing first on windows phone. And yesterday with the office companion app
  • I hope so. But if Microsoft still release Windows Phone 8's updates in the same, slow pace even after this and after Steve Ballmer's departure and retirement from Microsoft, then I would consider what Joe Belfiore said about WP8's update development speed after the acquisition of Nokia was part of a nonsensical conference script written by Ballmer and he forced Belfiore to say it to please the news and tech site press.
  • Microsoft has put their money where their mouth is, They have abolished stacked ranking of employees and instead they will be rewarded for following the "One-Microsoft" policy, check on the recent news: http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-does-away-with-stack-ranking-7000023103/ http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230346000457919395198...
  • That's baseless. Nothing in this line has been said. Subsidized Lumia phones just like Nexus are what this will bring! Its the best time of the year for WP lovers! Anyone knows what happened to all authority approvals? Has this been approved from legal peeps?
  • I want my 41MP Surface Phone!
  • With Quadcore Snapdragon 800, 5inch screen, 32GB +SD up to 128GB (future SDs), assertive display and all the other trimmings. Why stop at 41MP, the Snapdragon 800 supports up to 55MP......wait....Qualcome says the 800 supports only up to 21MP..... http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/processors/800?source=google&type=branded&campaignid=snapdragon_new&adgroup=sitelink Camera Up to 21 Megapixel, stereoscopic 3D Dual Image Signal Processors for Snapdragon Camera support simultaneous camera/video, ultrafast 640 Megapixel/second capture speeds and computational camera
  • Awesome!!! I'm so glad this happened. All the doubters will see the benefits from this. My friends and I have been talking about this for months. It was and is and obvious, smart business move.
  • I'll be honest: if Google or Apple try to fully acquire Nokia, hell will come. I'd rather Nokia remain fully independent, but I'd rather Microsoft get their hands on them than Google or Apple! Let's see: Google nabs Motorola, Microsoft snatches Nokia, Apple swipes Blackberry. Equally balanced, no one really wins. Shadow Broker is cunning...
  • Apple has no need to aquire a phone company. Google and Microsoft are starting to realize maybe devices and services is a good idea. Lots of people started using iTunes and iCloud when they got iPhones, so it makes sense to make the devices that then sell your services for you.
  • I was referring to the older companies who have the oldest patents (Motorola, Nokia, and RIM aka Blackberry) and nothing more. Sorry for the confusion.
  • Yay!
  • Finally. Please Microsoft, lets stop the AT&T exclusives. Lets have universal launches from now on.
  • If Nokia didn't have much pull with carriers, due to their weak market position, Microsoft's position is likely worse.
    Microsoft's relationship with Verizon, in particular, is dire. There's still bad blood between them about the Kin phones.
  • Yeah, but everyone knows Money Talks. Microsoft have the 'dough' to market and promote one 'Hero' device like a 5in or 6in Lumia Device across Networks.
  • Awesome, 99.7 votes in the favour of the deal totally rubbished the tall claims of all the trolls who can now go back under their bridge. Now, the same Nokia Finland staff can concentrate on innovations with good funding and no fear of getting bankrupt.
  • Yeah. But what about that 0.3% opposition? That's a movement right there. LOL
  • I love Windows Phone but I love Nokia more. I hope Microsoft makes something out of this deal cos they've been seriously sleeping when it comes to windows phone.
  • Let the crying begin
  • I never cared for Nokia. Maybe I was too young but I never had the privilege of owning one. I had blackberries and that old pebble phone before I came to windows phone 7 with the dell venue pro. So I never grew an attachment to Nokia and didn't see the value they could bring to windows phone. Now having owned a 920 and soon a 1520, windows phone would be nothing if not for Nokia. Still... I'm a microsoft/windowsphone fan first... Nokia admirer second. THIS is good news and will see windows phone grow and conquer just as they did with the Xbox. I am happy for Microsoft and hope to see mt favorite company excel!
  • Nokia! :'(
    the Lumia experience will never be the same again, even if MS carries forward that brand name..
    R.I.P. Nokia Lumia and Nokia Phones..
  • Dont pronounce something dead while its still living. Nokia is essentially being transfered to MS (aka: no one is getting fired, everyone keeps their jobs), where they can work more closely on phone features and the OS. so you will likely see a quality increase in Lumia devices produced by Microsoft+Nokia, since both companies stated one of the biggest problems that slowed both production speed and product developememt down was the fact that they both kept things under wraps, and werent quite in sync, meaning a change MS may of made in an upcoming os update would break a new hardware feature or improvement being worked on quietly at nokia.
  • i said R.I.P. Nokia Lumia and Nokia Phones because now you will be seeing Microsoft Lumia phones or something.
    and yes, the Lumia experience is gonna suck now.
    all exclusive Lumia features will be available to all OEMs now. :/
    all awesomeness and uniqueness ripped off!
  • Tars tears tears Oh microsoft dont do this Nokia is my fav phone brand :'(   i am going to die :'(      
  • Feeling sad for Nokia. I love Nokia devices especially n series (n90), First Carl Zeiss camera Phone, it is still in my bag, and i don't know whether it is bad or good news. Lets hope that Microsoft will keep Nokia logo on new phones.
  • The dissidents don’t get it.  If you have been a Windows Phone user since WP7, you have shown loads of patience.  I understand the doubt going forward, especially if you are attached to the Nokia name.  I am confident the quality will continue, regardless of the name.  The large majority of the Nokia staff working on Windows Phone now with Nokia, will continue to do so under Microsoft.  Honestly, I think it will be even better and the loyal will be rewarded with a better experience in the long run.
  • better experience..oh yes..
    nokia exclusives like nokia camera and glance screen will become common for all WPs..because if MS gives exclusives to its hardware, OEMs will back out..
    and on top of Nokia goodies OEMs add their own stuff..
    so now Nokia phones go from being the most advanced WPs to the most basic WPs.. :/
  • unlikely. It will be more like surface. OEMs threw a fit about that too, but i still see windows pc's... And even, in your little scenario, if OEMs DID back out of WP, that would mean Lumia devices would be THE windows phone. It could possibly help the OS and phones, allowing speedier production (since MS would no longer have to deal with licensing and making the os usable on hardware they dont make).
  • OEMs are responsible for the hardware mainly.
    but extra software tweaks are what differentiate them.
    and if MS keeps the best goodies for themselves, OEMs will back out. though i would love that, but it won't be profitable for MS, so it won't happen.
    so yeah, Lumia becomes the most basic WP now.
  • There will still be some Lumia exclusive features, but features like Glance will certainly become part of the OS and available on all OEM devices. I am sure they will continue with Lumia exclusive apps that aren't right away for other OEM devices.
  • MS keeping exclusive apps for its devices?
    frankly if i was an OEM, i would leave WP right away if MS did that..
  • Honestly, the amount of money they'd lose wouldn't be an issue, and in the long run could make WP more profitable. Remember: Nokia accounts for most WP devices sold, and most think Nokia when you say windows phone. The amount of profits MS would lose tomorrow if OEMs quit cold turkey on WP would be justifiable, and likely MS could draw those other-WP customers to a Nokia device around upgrade time. Furthermore, hardware differentiates devices too. I have yet too see a non-Nokia WP with a 41MP camera, interchangeable shells, or of Lumia-level design. Hell, the only HTC WP with a design I ever thought was decent was the 8s. The 8x was ok, but it was no show stopper. Nokia devices have both the looks and the hardware features that no other OEM has (even non-WP OEMs), On both the low end, and the high end. I would be shocked if ms DIDNT keep exclusives. Microsoft bought Nokia to not only further their devices and services strategy, but to also speed up the development process and to release better phones. If Microsoft gave away the exclusives to OEMs, they'd see a marginal increase in OEM WP sales, and a bigger decrease in Lumia sales, since the exclusives are maybe the 3rd reason people choose Lumia vs OEM WPs besides hardware and design. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Wait this out. See what happens. Have faith in this (currently being) reborn Microsoft. It isn't the same MS as before.
  • Most are defending the Name, nothing more. As we should all know, nothing changes except ownership.
  • Lumia = MSFT mobile division on ARM. Phones, Tablets, Watches and Glasses Surface = MSFT PC division on X86. Ultrabooks, Tablets, Laptops, All in one, Desktop Xbox = MSFT entertainment division. XBOX ONE, games, music, video Makes sense. Powered by Windows, IE, Office, Skype., Skydrive
  • With SkyDrive likely needing to be renamed, though.
  • I really want Microsoft to keep the Nokia name.. I mean its so iconic, go anywhere in the world and people will know what the name Nokia stands for!!
  • I wonder if they are going to do this like Google did with Motorola or are they going to take another route cause Motorola basically runs itself...But anyways YAAAAAAY!
  • It's not the same. Google bought all of Motorola. Microsoft just butchered the D&S out of Nokia. The remaining divisions will remain with Nokia (HERE, NSN and patents).
  • First gain some knowledge you idiot, Google didn't buy all of Motorola, even Motorola was divided into Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions so that half of the company can be sold.
  • If they are two separate companies, then yes, Google bought all of Motorola Mobility. Which includes the Motorola brand. Idiot.
  • Now, don't move the goalpost you asshole, Google didn't buy all of Motorola as you claimed, the End. You are just pissed off that this deal was approved by shareholders and its very satisfying for all of us to see you barking here like a mad dog and crying rivers like a little girl :)
  • So is Nokia two seperate brands. Motorola was one company, with the Mobility and Solutions divisions. Nokia was one company with the Devices & Services and Solutions (NSN) divisions. After Aquisitions: Motorola ▶ Motorola by Google & Motorola Sollutions Nokia ▶Noka by Microsoft & Nokia Sollutions Network
  • lol. the more you type the more it's apparent, you really have no clue.
  • To quote a separate response to your spreading untruths.... "Google didn't really buy all of Motorola.  Prior to the Google acquisition, Motorola split into two different companies; Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions.  Google only bought the Motorola Mobility part, which is the equivalent to the Devices Division that Microsoft is purchasing from Nokia.  The Motorola Solutions part is the equivalent to what is the remaining entity that is Nokia will be."
  • Wow...that really shed a light of truth to ones that shed tears
  • 3 words to say........ Oh my God......
  • lets wait and see.. "dont judge the book by its cover", Nokia fantastic development still being part of the future of "whatever" MSFT WP
  • In other words, there were only 15 people out of 5,000, who voted "No". That's pretty resounding support.
  • Well hopefully my Nokia stoke shoot up to where Microsoft's stock is. :)
  • The magic is not in the name, it's in the engineers, if MS lets the Nokia guys do what they do, we have nothing to fear.
  • :(
  • Some of the services stuff is going to be interesting: for example, what happens to the free Nokia Music that came bundled with the phones? Does that turn to Xbox Music, and is it a comparable service, i.e. free (with purchase)? Also, Nokia had services around the world tied to their older platforms, like Symbian and Asha.  What happens to those? Nokia had always pushed for Microsoft to go faster-faster-faster with the software updates; what happens to the ONE GUY now working on Windows Phone development in a corner basement office in Redmond? More questions than answers.
  • I seriously hope to see NOKIA written on my next Lumia device. I opted for Lumia only for NOKIA. Its sad to think future mobile phones with no NOKIA logo. Cant imagine a phone without NOKIA.:-(:-(
  • i think people will see new devices and look at them and be able to distinctly tell this is a nokia design (after all microsoft will have the whole lumia design team) and still see the quality of the device. this will help them buy the new lumia's.
  • It is more than that - people believe in Nokia's quality.
  • Question: How will this affect the use of Carl Zeiss optics in the phone cameras? Is that included in the licensing/sale?
  • I don't think so because they are also licensing other patents.
  • one step closer to One Microsoft Hardware and Services good luck Microsoft-Nokia
  • I was gutted when I first found out, the Nokia name was getting killed on smartphones. Also, as time went by, I warmed to the idea -- yeah that's right, I'm over it. However, only time will tell if this is a good or bad thing. Personally, I now think it will be a good thing, as long as they keep the Lumia name and all the different colours. What I don't want to see, is Microsoft kill the name and only use Surface -- that would be a stupid idea. Also, have Surface Tablets Wifi/LTE, running W8 Pro -- more for the business world. Then let the Lumia Tablet take the role of RT -- more for the consumer world, as it has the potential to kick iPads arse -- plus it's cheaper and prettier than the iPad equivalent..... Just my 2 pence lol.
  • Well, just like the day when the deal was first announced, I still don't know what to make of it. Half of me is sad because the name wont be there anymore. The other half is however happy and excited at the prospect of the great phones that are now going to come out from Redmond. Don't know how to take it or what to make of it. Kind of comfortably numb right now.
  • You said it right.
  • Makes me happy that I decided to toss a little money out and buy 100 Nokia shares at $2.00 a share. Wish I had bought more
  • Yes me too, I need more and will buy more this week.
  • I always new there was something about me......THEY USED TO CALL ME MR 0.3!!!!!.....I MEAN GLASS-S.L Jackson (2000)
  • Now what will happen to the upcoming devices that Nokia was planning, I wonder.
  • D
  • I don't care about the Nokia name, I bought a Lumia because I like the hardware and camera. The Surface tablet shows that Microsoft can make nice hardware, Nokia engineers now with Microsoft will continue this moving forward.
  • Tonight, I will open a good bottle and celebrate the disappearance of the world's worst smartphone brand. MS can only do better.
  • Good for you mate! You deserve it!
  • Still getting a Lumia device next.  Great phones, decent enough quality, and hopefully better support this time around. 
  • This suppose to be good news...why is Nok stock tumbling? :-(
  • People crying about losing the Nokia brand name as if Nokia paid their bills, paid for their university tuition, paid for their food etc. It's just a company so get a grip. I hope the posters here claiming that they will leave WP now will stop trolling this site - they know who they are.
  • Usually those are the same people that say that iOS users only buy their phones because of the Apple logo. Well, looky now.
  • I still dont get it. Nokia will be no more ?? So future phones will be called Microsoft Lumia ? And what about current Nokia Lumia phones ? And why did Nokia accept this , they weren't dying or anything ?
  • Hi, Rich, where does the Elop portait come from? why is that? That's very negative picture of anyone.
  • Great news. But the problem is that Microsoft didn't acquire Here mapping services--which was one of the biggest features Microsoft have in their Lumia Windows Phone devices. Apart from that, Lumia tablets line will be under control of Microsoft, that means a LTE Surface tablets are soon a possibility alongside with Here navigation and mapping applications. Good job Microsoft!
  • Thus is great news. Regarding the matter of the 'Nokia' brand name, I think they should keep it for the Lumias but not for their Surface Phone (assuming they do plan to release a Surface Phone). So, 'Nokia Lumia' as we all know and love, and 'MS Surface Phone' (or whatever they decide to call their Surface line of phones).
  • My thoughts exactly! They would be stupid to remove the Nokia brand that is so loved and trusted from the market wouldn't they? 
  •    Now that the deal is complete, I'd like to see low end phones made of polycarbonate. Mid-range phones made of magnesium and high-end phones made of aluminum or some combination of the three.
  • No need we're most likely see a Cheap High end Phone from MS like the nexus brand 
  • Sad day. Been using Nokia phones since 1998. Now no more Nokia phones. RIP.
  • They need to get those maps as well
  • What a cool breeze. Trolls wished that shareholder would downvote the deal. Now trolls will pray for EU to make the deal from happening. When the deal is passed, troll would wish that it is just a dream..umm no..move on, there is nothing to see here. :P
  • Awesome
  • If that means I will get the black update earlier I'm happy!
  • Steven Elop is a clear failure who drowned legendary company like Nokia OR clever enough to get back home(Redmond) and eyeing for the CEO position at Microsoft... A story much interesting than Steve Jobs... Finnish government may cancel the deal... :/
  • GREAT!
  • Although I would be very very disheartened if the Nokia name is dropped from future devices, if things are actually executed properly, then it has never been a better time to be a Nokia Engineer. With MS' deep pockets and Nokia's huge patent portfolio combined with the vast expertise of Nokia's engineering and marketing teams, I see optimism. Here's hoping for a lot more innovation from the erstwhile Nokia team (and also from MS, obviously).
  • I think WP 8 OS programmers should learn and peak at what Nokia's programmers did or do with their MeeGo, Symbian. Take for instance App Folder app compared to the Nokia N9 counterpart. Microsoft should allow more freedom for Nokia developers with the OS to tweak things up a little better from UX/UI point. Othrwise they are heading straight for the edge of the cliff and into Canyon Microsoft.