Live data from Hacker News

Nokia acquired by Microsoft

blogs.technet.com

131–140 of 573 posts

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#131
post #111
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it does feed a family of ten... keeping useless jokes aside; Despite loving my Lumia Windows phone, I am not too thrilled about this acquisition either. I just hope Microsoft's internal politics doesn't ruin Nokia's future!

> I just hope Microsoft's internal politics doesn't ruin Nokia's future! How bright do you think Nokia's future was prior to this?

Pretty bright I must say. Lumia became the fastest growing smartphones in the Asian and South American markets. For a company that resurrected itself from bankruptcy to this, does hold an impressive future if kept on its track.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#132
post #103
post #38

This is a great move. There is no money in being an Android vendor except if you're Samsung and are totally vertically integrated. With Windows Phone, Nokia and Microsoft at least have some hope of carving out a profitable stake in the market. Anecdotally, I'm very impressed with some of the new Lumias. I got a 620 to replace my stolen iPhone, and for $200 unlocked its phenomenal phone. The build quality makes a flag…

Agreed re: Samsung. With this new acquisition, Microsoft now has the ability to control the entire mobile phone experience -- something Apple has had huge success doing for years now. They'll have a high-quality platform to promote their app store and create an interesting ecosystem. This'll also create a distinct image in consumer's minds of what the Microsoft Phone is, similar to what we imagine when we think of th…

Google has Motorola and the Nexus line. As for Microsoft, their spectacular failure with the Surface suggests that having control of both hardware and software does not necessarily result in success.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#134
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Microsoft can simply pay that shell Nokia to do the racket for them. Patent privateering is not news. Crooked companies who have something to lose pay non producing trolls to attack their competitors. Non producing trolls are harder to fight, and those companies stay in the shadows and avoid retaliation.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#135

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.

> ...they are not buying any patents. They are buying a 10-year license to Nokia's patents.

That's basically the same isn't it? A patent can only remain active for 20 years, assuming most of the patents are several years old the majority of them will be pretty close to expiration in 10 years time.

Note: I'm basing this on NZ patent law, but I assuming it's the same for any 1st world country...

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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…

Whatever your personal hangups are, words such as "battle" (an extended contest, struggle, or controversy) and "war" (a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end) are entirely and absolutely appropriate for such discussions.

Your comment borders on bizarre.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#137

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…

[deleted]

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#138
post #119

The combined company makes a lot of sense and will be well-positioned to compete in mobile, blah blah. I'm sad, because Nokia stood for something: something I generally liked even though I didn't own one. As did Microsoft: something I disliked mildly, but that needed to exist. Now those two brands can't stand for two separate things any more. The combined company will stand for maximizing shareholder value through le…

Jolla might interest you, though I have no idea about their current state.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#139

Well, at least Qt got warp-core ejected before all of this. God only knows what would have happened in this transaction.

This. Even though I personally throw in with the GTK+ crowd as both a user and developer, the competition between the two camps is definitely good for innovation and makes for strong, compelling alternatives on the Linux desktop.
Post reply on HN