Microsoft takes another step out of cellphones as Nokia plots returnTen months after writing down much of its disastrous acquisition of Nokia’s handset business, Microsoft took another step to unwind the deal.
Microsoft on Wednesday agreed to unload its low-end phone business, acquired from Nokia, to FIH Mobile Ltd., a subsidiary of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group, and HMD Global Oy for $US350 million. In a separate but related transaction, Nokia entered into licensing pacts with FIH Mobile and HMD Global to put its brand once again on mobile handsets.
The deal highlights how sharply Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella has shifted the company’s mobile strategy since his predecessor, Steve Ballmer, championed the Nokia deal, which closed in 2014. Last summer, Microsoft wrote down about 80 per cent of the $US9.4 billion deal, cutting 7,800 workers, mostly in its mobile-phone business. The software giant hasn’t given up on phones. But its latest strategy revolves around Windows 10, the most recent version of its flagship operating system that runs on various devices including smartphones, PCs, tablets, and game consoles.
Microsoft also is developing services that behave intelligently based on data gathered by smartphones and other devices. At a conference for software developers in March, the company showed how its voice-activated digital assistant, Cortana, could book a hotel room or order a pizza proactively based on a user’s personal data and preferences.
- looks like Nokia are going with Android in future..
As far as I am concerned, Windows 10 Mobile is dead. I bought the ICON two years ago and it's still on 8.1 and no 10 in the future.
The ICON was a flagship phone for MS but looks like the Titanic now. Fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice and shame on me.
Jim
As far as I am concerned, Windows 10 Mobile is dead. I bought the ICON two years ago and it's still on 8.1 and no 10 in the future.
The ICON was a flagship phone for MS but looks like the Titanic now. Fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice and shame on me.
Jim
Honestly I simply don't care what Microsoft promises now, Windows phone is long gone as viable system to me, it's not that it was bad, I really enjoyed my windows phone.
With the whole windows 10 thing I have just simply lost all faith in Microsoft
..it's not that bad
- did you read the headline?
- just means a change of direction for Nokia
- and a change of manufacturer for the hardware stuff..
Nokia phones to me have always been very well built, i think a move to android is a great idea for Nokia..it's not that bad
- did you read the headline?
- just means a change of direction for Nokia
- and a change of manufacturer for the hardware stuff..
So maybe next year a release version for the ICON.
Jim
Hi there.
Ms can say what it likes - and Windows Mobile is obviously a high up exec's pet project but even Ms can't buck the market indefinitely.
Whatever the merits or otherwise of Windows phone - and there ARE some good things about Windows phone - it's a dead duck --almost NOBODY is developing sensible everyday commonly used apps for it (Banking, travel, e-commerce - billing etc). Not all phone users are purely interested in playing games or "twittering" all day.
You can't empty the Pacific Ocean using a thimble -- that's what Ms are almost trying to do with their dogged perserverance of the Doomed Windows phone project.
Of course Windows phone users can always access the relevant Full (Computer type) standard web sites for Banking etc - but these are often very inconvenient to use on phones with no mouse and small screens compared with sites designed specifically for Mobile phone usage.
Cheers
jimbo
I ran the update advisor on my Icon and it now says it is eligible for an upgrade to Windows 10. But it says that MS is working with my mobile operator (Verizon) and I will get a notification when it is ready. Took a year to get the 8.1 update.
Jim
