Nokia denies Microsoft will buy their smart phone division

[Bateluer]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile...to_Sell_Off_Smartphone_Unit_to_Microsoft.html

"As we have described it before, the rumors are baseless, and some people who seem to enjoy generating rumors are running out of fresh material, so it seems to have come up again. I have nothing else to say," said Stephen Elop, chief exec of Nokia, in an interview with PC Magazine.

it looks like the companies are not even close to make any kind of deal now. Microsoft barely needs Nokia's smartphone unit, which is on a path towards serious decline and which will lose a lot of cost-efficiency after separating from the mother company. Finally, Microsoft clearly understands that few people would like to get a Microsoft-branded smartphone, based on failures of Microsoft Kin, Microsoft Zune and some other mobile initiatives.

Curious. I'm positive that MS has the cash to buy Nokia's smartphone division easily, should they want to.

So, would you be interested in a Microsoft branded, WP7/7.5/8 phone? Or would you prefer an HTC or Samsung device running Microsoft's OS?

Second question, if MS were to buy the division, then what of HTC and Samsung? Google's still taking flak from pundits for buying Moto Mobility and possibility alienating HTC/Samsung/LG/etc. Course, HTC and Samsung both have thriving, healthy Android based product lines so I don't think it'd really matter to them long term.

 

[Dice144]

Pretty happy with my HTC Titan. Bring on more WP7 phones! Hopefully with even better battery life.

 

[Nebor]

I would prefer to have a Microsoft branded device. Love my Zune HD.

 

[smartpatrol]

I've always thought that buying Nokia is Microsoft's "plan b". Plan a was to try and get the various smartphone OEMs excited about pushing Windows Phone. (And make Android less attractive through licensing fees.) I wouldn't be surprised to see MS buy Nokia any day now.

Personally, I love the idea of a Microsoft branded device. WP7.5 has such strict chassis requirements anyway. Might as well have 1-2 really great devices, rather than a dozen Android knock offs.

 

[quest55720]

I would love if MS bought out noikia cell phone division. I am love the OS and would love real flag ship devices from MS. I just don't think anyone else will make true flagship devices for the OS. They are to invested in android and google. I have a focus s and my wife has a focus. I would love to upgrade them for a flagship nokia apollo phones come fall time. I just wish the nokia 900 would of been out would of gotten it over the focus s.

 

[Mopetar]

Microsoft buying Nokia would be a mistake. I have a feeling that Google will discover their Motorola acquisition was a mistake, even if Microsoft manages to extract licensing fees from all of the manufacturers.

Both are trying to have the third party manufacturers adopt their platform. Owning a hardware manufacturer muddies the relationships with other manufacturers and interferes with the other divisions in the parent company.

 

[crisscross]

Agree with Mopetar. Google has a had history of dumping their partners. (Remember Firefox) Samsung and HTC were drawn to Android thanks to it's low licensing fee but felt threatened with Google's acquisition of Motorola. For Microsoft to go ahead and do the same thing would be a big mistake.

 

[Bateluer]

Agree with Mopetar. Google has a had history of dumping their partners. (Remember Firefox) Samsung and HTC were drawn to Android thanks to it's low licensing fee but felt threatened with Google's acquisition of Motorola. For Microsoft to go ahead and do the same thing would be a big mistake.

Any links to justify this? So far, there's been no evidence of that. Both HTC and Samsung still have extensive plans with Android products, with no signs of slowing down, and neither has made any statements opposing Google/Moto to my knowledge.

Has Google actually said what they plan to do with Moto Mobility? Thus far, it looks like it was just a patent acquisition to defend their product from all the 'Me too!' lawsuits.

 

[vbuggy]

I'm sure a Microsoft branded WP7 phone would present a more consistent experience for the most part, but like Zune, going it alone didn't necessarily do MS any good the last time. Besides, MS is monolithic enough already.

 

[Nebor]

Microsoft buying Nokia would be a mistake. I have a feeling that Google will discover their Motorola acquisition was a mistake, even if Microsoft manages to extract licensing fees from all of the manufacturers.

Both are trying to have the third party manufacturers adopt their platform. Owning a hardware manufacturer muddies the relationships with other manufacturers and interferes with the other divisions in the parent company.

I would prefer Microsoft exclusively manufacture windows phones, just like Apple.

 

[shortylickens]

I'm sure a Microsoft branded WP7 phone would present a more consistent experience for the most part, but like Zune, going it alone didn't necessarily do MS any good the last time. Besides, MS is monolithic enough already.

At the very least they need a flagship device. Every other OS has one, in fact with Android its sometimes hard to decide what the flagship device is if different companies release awesome phones at the same time.
But WP7 never had one and since Nokia is already experienced at making great phones, best to let them try. In fact if they were smart they would have a contract with Nokia that requires them to make one flagship phone a year.

 

[Medu]

There is little reason to buy Nokia. Nokia are already tied into making Windows products for the next few years and once that deal is over WP7 will either be dead or a success. Buying Nokia at this stage would really be doubling down on WP7 as the health of Nokia would directly be linked to the success of WP7 and I doubt many people are betting on WP7 been a major force.

 

[crisscross]

Any links to justify this? So far, there's been no evidence of that. Both HTC and Samsung still have extensive plans with Android products, with no signs of slowing down, and neither has made any statements opposing Google/Moto to my knowledge.

Has Google actually said what they plan to do with Moto Mobility? Thus far, it looks like it was just a patent acquisition to defend their product from all the 'Me too!' lawsuits.

Why wouldn't they? They spent $12.5 billion for the acquisition. Motorola has revenues of $3 Billion with a workforce of 19,000 workers. Would Google just piss it away and say hey we just need the patents we will let Samsung and HTC build the phones?

If they do build phones then they will have to compete with Samsung and HTC and maybe not in the next year or two but in the long term Motorola would be a significant part of Google's plans.

 

[Fox5]

I've always thought that buying Nokia is Microsoft's "plan b". Plan a was to try and get the various smartphone OEMs excited about pushing Windows Phone. (And make Android less attractive through licensing fees.) I wouldn't be surprised to see MS buy Nokia any day now.

Personally, I love the idea of a Microsoft branded device. WP7.5 has such strict chassis requirements anyway. Might as well have 1-2 really great devices, rather than a dozen Android knock offs.

Why buy the cow when the milk is free? Nokia is locked into Windows phone for better or worse.

 

[mammador]

It would make good strategic sense. MS needs to prepare for the post-IBM clone era (which IMO won't come in some time). yes, there is Office, Exchange, etc., but MS' biggest selling product is arguably Windows. Should personal computer users abandon IBM clones for tablets and smartphones, then it stands to reason some contingency is needed. I don't think, in the event that IBM clone sales potentially diminish, Office and Exchange revenues would be enough to tide over MS.