Nokia acquired by Microsoft • Hacker News Board

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#121

Post by corresation » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:18 AM UTC

Anechoic wrote: post #113

throwawaykf02 wrote: post #104

There was some credible speculation back then that Google bought up Mototorola because its CEO threatened patent warfare with other Android manufacturers, something Google really did not want happening. Along similar lines, I speculate that Microsoft snapped up Nokia because they threatened starting an Android line of phones. I think there's a significant business lesson in here somewhere... Something along the lines…

I speculate that Microsoft snapped up Nokia because they threatened starting an Android line of phones. Remember that MS makes money off Android phones. MS also gets a nice patent bonus along [..] Apple admitted defeat in its patent fight with Nokia, something it hasn't done with anybody else Apple has (well had but I'd bet dollars to donuts it was renewed) a patent cross-licensing agreement with Microsoft so this co…

Remember that MS makes money off Android phones.

Purportedly. I engaged in a debate on here before which involved trying to find the supposedly enormous sums of money that Microsoft makes from Android in their quarterly financial statements. At best it has to amount to what would be chump change to a company like Microsoft.

Instead we hear about supposed agreements where vendors who all happen to also be Windows Phone makers pay some unknown sum to Microsoft, which for all we know is used towards their WP licensing.

If Nokia released Android phones it would been devastating to Microsoft's mobile platform. It would have ruined it.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#122

Post by shmerl » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:19 AM UTC

jmspring wrote: post #117

shmerl wrote: post #49

It was expected all along since Elop ditched Meego which was key to Nokia's success. It won't help Microsoft though, but expect a lot of damage from this. Nokia already attacked VP8 codec with their patents. Now Microsoft will use all Nokia's patents to bring patent trolling to new heights.

Not sure how not ready, not shipping on devices, no app support makes it "key to success". With that argument sticking to System 40 and System 60 would have made more sense.

Key to success since it allowed Nokia developing modern and versatile system. Not sure what you meant by no support and not shipping. It was cancelled, obviously. What kind of support do you expect from a cancelled system? Elop cut off that road for Nokia, and their independence was doomed ever since. It was probably the plan all along.

It's good that we have Jolla folks now, who continue Meego heritage. But now they will be increasingly threatened by Microsoft trolling.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#123

Post by general_failure » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:20 AM UTC

So, it's lesser than the price for Skype? Wow. This makes no sense to me though. I mean Nokia has a lot more value than Skype!

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#124

Post by corresation » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:20 AM UTC

throwawaykf02 wrote: post #104

There was some credible speculation back then that Google bought up Mototorola because its CEO threatened patent warfare with other Android manufacturers, something Google really did not want happening. Along similar lines, I speculate that Microsoft snapped up Nokia because they threatened starting an Android line of phones. I think there's a significant business lesson in here somewhere... Something along the lines…

Microsoft's own press release makes clear that they are not buying any patents. They are buying a 10-year license to Nokia's patents.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/Sep13/09-02An...

This is almost certainly to lubricate regulatory approval, and because it unleashes a Nokia patent monster upon the lands.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#125

Post by aaronbrethorst » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:20 AM UTC

Apocryphon wrote: post #107

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #19

To everyone speculating about what this means for the possibility of Elop succeeding Ballmer: this means that Elop is succeeding Ballmer. End of story. edit: I would love to know why this is getting downvoted. edit2: fair enough. Two key facts: 1. Microsoft needs a new CEO. They have a limited pool to choose from. The following are seemingly reasonable candidates: - Mark Zuckerberg (never going to happen, he wouldn't…

How come Paul Allen left MS and never looked back?

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and a really bad falling out with Bill.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#126

Post by throwawaykf02 » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:21 AM UTC

kbaker wrote: post #61

Moto7451 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. I doubt purchasing Nokia's phone business would make PC vendors any more worried than Surface/Surface Pro did. Windows is still king of the desktop and unless Android becomes a desktop OS or Apple starts licensing OS X there aren't any real alternatives with consumer brand recognition. If Ubuntu were the answer then System 76 would be more than a boutique PC maker. If MS starts making desktops, laptops, a…

Idk, sounds like the year of Linux on the desktop is closer than it has ever been. :) But you should really look at Chromebooks/ChromeOS for one glimpse of what a consumer-friendly, non-MS system would really look like. Right now it is the #1 selling laptop on Amazon, and reviews are pretty positive. If I was a shareholder in MSFT, I would seriously be worried for the future of the whole Windows platform, mobile and…

Most Windows Phones were #1 best sellers on Amazon too. Look at where their market share is right now.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#127

Post by aaronbrethorst » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:22 AM UTC

nemothekid wrote: post #110

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #19

To everyone speculating about what this means for the possibility of Elop succeeding Ballmer: this means that Elop is succeeding Ballmer. End of story. edit: I would love to know why this is getting downvoted. edit2: fair enough. Two key facts: 1. Microsoft needs a new CEO. They have a limited pool to choose from. The following are seemingly reasonable candidates: - Mark Zuckerberg (never going to happen, he wouldn't…

Why would Zuckerberg or Sandberg be good candidates from Microsoft CEO? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to slight Facebook, but in my mind Facebook and Microsoft operate on two completely different wavelengths. I'm confident they wouldn't perform poorly, but I find it hard to believe they could provide the type of leadership and vision Microsoft needs right now. I'm just interested in hearing your thinking. Also n…

I was going for either people who are 'hip' enough or 'steady' enough to run Microsoft. Fiorina would be a total, unmitigated disaster.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#128

Post by corresation » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:22 AM UTC

shmerl wrote: post #118

corresation wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The simple logistics of the deal make it very likely that the remaining Nokia shell company will become a patent aggressor. The only reason companies like Samsung and Motorola aren't firing off patent attacks daily is that their own substantial businesses fall risk to the same sorts of attack, leading to a sort of detente. By unloading the hardware business, the entity that remains will have all of the benefits of be…

And, naturally the one pulling the strings will be MS.

I doubt that. The remaining entity will be self-governed and will have -- to what I've seen -- no interest in or from Microsoft.

However Microsoft will have a 10-year license grant, meaning that Microsoft is immune to the beast anyways.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#129

Post by hippee-lee » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:22 AM UTC

macspoofing wrote: post #100

corresation wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no money in being an Android vendor except if you're Samsung and are totally vertically integrated. There are a lot of people who would have picked up the attractive, well built, well engineered Nokia devices if they had the platform of Android. The core problem with the "no money in Android" argument is that you can't choose not to compete with Android if you're in the smartphone game, which is pretty obvio…

>There are a lot of people who would have picked up the attractive, well built, well engineered Nokia devices if they had the platform of Android. Yeah maybe. There is no guarantee that the outcome would have been more favorable than being bought out by Microsoft. >Apple obviously is very much in a battle with Android ... Apple already lost to Android. Last count, Android had 80% of the market. There is zero chance o…

Can we not talk about this in terms of war and battle? It is the business of selling consumer electronics, same as it has always been. You do explain your position well but I feel the references to war and battle water it down.

No one has been killed in the development of phones. I get that the MBA crowd read the art of war and it's practical knowledge seeped into popular discussion. But the endless reference to war in consumer electronics (and other areas not really war) is tedious and uninformative.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#130

Post by CoffeeDregs » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 4:23 AM UTC

throwawaykf02 wrote: post #104

There was some credible speculation back then that Google bought up Mototorola because its CEO threatened patent warfare with other Android manufacturers, something Google really did not want happening. Along similar lines, I speculate that Microsoft snapped up Nokia because they threatened starting an Android line of phones. I think there's a significant business lesson in here somewhere... Something along the lines…

This is largely OT, but I consider this to be a critical factor in online communities, so...

    I speculate that

I upvoted you just for this bit. Smart people who note when they're speculating are rare ##. I hear speculation spoken as though it were experience or authority depressingly often.

Reading your comment further: I agree.

## I'm worried that I'm sounding prejudiced and that's not my intention. Not-smart people speculate constantly and I doubt they recognize it; it's hard to recognize speculation in our society. Smart people are the worst: their speculations sound reasonable/smart. Smart people silently-speculating are like Homer's sirens: sounds good until you're dashed on the rocks.