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Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

jacquesmattheij.com

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Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#111

Post by maxklein »

btilly wrote: post #84
maxklein wrote: post #34

When I read such articles, that's when you realise that people are resistant to change. It's like those people still using Windows XP because it's the best. Tech is in constant change, but at some point, some people just give up and decide not to join in anymore: not to make facebook accounts, not to join twitter, not to upgrade their OS, not to switch browser. That's what this post is: someone refusing to face the c…

That's what this post is: someone refusing to face the changing landscape of tech. You clearly don't know http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=jacquesm very well. He is not at all resistant to change. To the contrary he understands tech better that most of us can ever dream of. Microsoft has been trying to figure out how to create a decent phone, and has been failing. There is no reason to believe that Microsoft's tea…

Of course I'm not going to bet on a company which the CEO describes as being on a burning platform. You do realise that jumping off a burning platform does not mean you fall into a safe bed, it means that you know what you're doing now doesn't work, so you're taking a wild jump into nothing.

If the CEO thinks it's a gamble, so do I, and I'm not going to bet money on it.

It's not a certain thing with a certain outcome, but it's the best chance they have. It can go wrong, but then, every big decision can.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#113

Post by rexf »

marshray wrote: post #93
maxklein wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no other "something" to be done to save Nokia. It brings benefit to Microsoft, and it saves Nokia.

Baloney. Some of Nokia's other options were to 1. Develop a fantastic new platform/product/ecosystem that people wanted to buy (using local talent) 2. Support Android on some or most of their devices 3. Reinvigorate their current platform somehow (new features, reduced costs, new apps, developer incentives, etc) Keep in mind, MS's product in this space is widely considered less than successful. The only thing MS has…

Nokia has shown over time that #1 & #3 aren't realistic. As for Android (#2) vs Windows 7 Phone (W7P), you can make a strong argument for either's adoption.

W7P is currently not a market hit. As you mention, Microsoft has cash in the bank, and they are not going to give up (see xbox, search, etc). Given a couple generations of W7P development, W7P will look like Android today (read: usable).

Nokia may eventually be relegated to a commodity hardware maker, but they do benefit by adopting a modern, competitive mobile OS (as opposed to their current in house options). The worst case for Nokia may look like Motorola. (In that Motorola was bleeding post-RAZR, adopted Android, and are now doing fine even though they don't create the OS.)

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#114

Post by neworbit »

marshray wrote: post #93
maxklein wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no other "something" to be done to save Nokia. It brings benefit to Microsoft, and it saves Nokia.

Baloney. Some of Nokia's other options were to 1. Develop a fantastic new platform/product/ecosystem that people wanted to buy (using local talent) 2. Support Android on some or most of their devices 3. Reinvigorate their current platform somehow (new features, reduced costs, new apps, developer incentives, etc) Keep in mind, MS's product in this space is widely considered less than successful. The only thing MS has…

Have you ever seen their local talent? These are the guys who built Symbian.

Nokia should have bought Palm (and similarly pivoted to it and away from the existing awful tech).

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#116

Post by tewks »

This is a great article, but the conclusion is flawed in that high point for Nokia was not the Nokia 2110!

It was instead Series60 third edition, which included a WebKit browser and SIP support in 2006.

Afterwards, nothing happened... it was as if the company threw its hands up in resignation post-iPhone.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#117

Post by okaramian »

arethuza wrote: post #2

I think the "the same happen without any risk to MS" is an excellent point - the downside for Microsoft is limited and the upside is pretty good. For Nokia the upside is limited (at best you are yet-another Windows Mobile 7 handset manufacturer - it's not like they have an exclusive) and the downside is huge.

They're currently going from not making smartphones... to making smartphones and actually trying to compete in the current market. It's better than nothing.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#118

Post by kyberneticka »

marshray wrote: post #93
maxklein wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no other "something" to be done to save Nokia. It brings benefit to Microsoft, and it saves Nokia.

Baloney. Some of Nokia's other options were to 1. Develop a fantastic new platform/product/ecosystem that people wanted to buy (using local talent) 2. Support Android on some or most of their devices 3. Reinvigorate their current platform somehow (new features, reduced costs, new apps, developer incentives, etc) Keep in mind, MS's product in this space is widely considered less than successful. The only thing MS has…

Windows Phone 7 has been on the market for less then a full quarter. It is a brand new OS, better on initial release then iOS 1.0 or Android 1.0. So stay calm. In time, people will see Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in the market.

RE point 1 and 3, Nokia did this already - it was supposed to be Maemo. They didn't go anywhere with it. They turned it into Meego. We know what happened with. Nokia failed MISERABLY in this regard.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#119

Post by kyberneticka »

ldng wrote: post #62
masklinn wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and that will ensure that Nokia remains relevant. Nokia becoming a WP7 OEM does not make them relevant. They're going to go the same path as they would have had they gone with Android instead: just another phone OEM. Though between WP7 and Android, WP7 is probably a much better choice for them.

Could you elaborate on that please ? Personally I fail to see in what this choice is better, maybe I missed something.

With Android, as others have pointed out, Nokia would have faced immense competition from HTC, Samsung, and others who are established in the marketplace. With WP7, they at least have an opportunity to come in at the ground floor.

Also, given the relationship between Elop and MS, there can be some shared resources to make Nokia the flagship for WP7. With Android, they would have been just another manufacturer.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#120

Post by andrewljohnson »

I dislike when essays swear at me, particularly long ones. If you want me to take what I am reading seriously, I expect you to choose your words carefully, and using the word "shit" doesn't smack of careful word choice. I kind of swear like a sailor when I talk sometimes, but not when I write.
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