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Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

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Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#51

Post by Geee »

jsnell wrote: post #26
latch wrote: post #16

Some reports suggested that [considerable] money was part of the deal. Do we know for sure whether this is or isn't the case? "Microsoft invests $300 million in a strategic partnership with Nokia" is a lot different than "Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0."

A one-time few hundred million would be peanuts at this scale, I can't imagine it affecting the decision unless it was quietly deposited to somebody's private Swiss bank account.

Microsoft will help a lot in the marketing department for the new devices, with money and with mind-share. One important point in this deal is the US markets, it would be impossible marketing effort for Nokia to gain ground on with Symbian and MeeGo, even if they succeeded in making them technically superior.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#53

Post by danh »

masklinn wrote: post #40
detst wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

... as Google hovered with their Android rescue helicopters?

Android and WP7 make no difference for Nokia. In fact WP7 is clearly a better deal as they can talk and negotiate with Microsoft's moneyhat and they become by far the foremost WP7 phone maker. They bring a lot of hardware expertise and knowledge to Microsoft's camp. Going with Android, they'd just get to get bent. If their choice was to get out of software and choose between WP7 and Android, WP7 is a much better idea…

It seems that Nokia will "become by far the foremost WP7 phone maker" mostly because everyone else shuns it.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#55

Post by bad_user »

wippler wrote: post #4

I think the post is unnecessarily harsh on both Nokia and Microsoft. Windows Phone is now a lot better and is comparable with iOS/Android, only thing it is lacking is apps. Nokia making this decision much late in the game clearly knows that Microsoft also came late to the game. It needs MS as much as MS needs Nokia. Together with huge marketing muscle of MS, they can surely make something out of the partnership.

     Windows Phone is now a lot better
Compared to the disaster that was WinMo 6, sure.

Thing is, Android / iOS cover pretty much every need of the smartphone market right now. The iPhone a well made, high-end, kick ass, user-friendly and kind of expensive product with tons of third-party support available.

Android on the other hand is already selling big on cheaper phones, and although it is so popular and all the tools you'll ever need are open-source and well-made, still it doesn't have so many quality apps like iOS. But it's getting there.

This is not like the XBox versus the PS3. PS3 took a long time to market and was considerably more expensive (it has been gaining significant ground btw).

This is also not like Windows versus Mac OS or OS/2. At that time Windows was the cheaper and the more versatile one.

It is also not like IExplorer versus Netscape. Microsoft doesn't have much leverage on this industry, besides a handful of patents. And phone makers aren't stupid. They've been burnt already by mobile operators.

This is too bad actually. My first mobile phone was a Nokia 3310, which I loved. Now the brand is dying.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#56

Post by ashr »

No doubt that MS has a great opportunity now and so has Nokia. Their partnership better move fast otherwise it won't be able to benefit.

Without knowing the details of the partnership, the content in the OP sounds mostly hyperbole and opinion at best.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#57

Post by _b8r0 »

My favourite phone was the Nokia 6210. That thing was damned near indestructable. The 6310i was also great but it only really added bluetooth and had no authentication on the AT modem profile (which meant anyone could connect to it and dial up to the Internet, snarf data and so on whenever bluetooth was on).

The problem with Nokia was that they kept messing around with Symbian and didn't really know what it was for, making clunky interfaces that while better than Windows Mobile at the time were just blown away by the iphone.

Instead of trying to provide a better experience than the iphone, they went crazy trying to imitate it and as a result failed to innovate. Ultimately Nokia's marriage to Symbian pretty much screwed the pooch. They had to ditch it but for what? If they're just another android OEM they're going to have some interoperability issues and it'll still be quite expensive. Switching to Microsoft means that if the tech is good it'll be well supported with a long term roadmap by guys with a good track record elsewhere. Nokia won't be just another OEM - they will be able to influence Microsoft's development. They still shift huge amounts of phones especially at the lower end of the market, and Microsoft will recognise that.

Sure Nokia are down but not out, and I think this is better for both than the title suggests.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#58

Post by bad_user »

neutronicus wrote: post #45
silvestrov wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Missing apps is like being BeOS: you can be the best OS in the world, but without apps you are not going to sell. App-less, you are nothing in this product segment. Besides, their Mac support is not that great, no support for syncing calendars. This is not 90'ies anymore, you need Mac support at this time to get the teenagers and cool people to use your product.

I don't think it's the same at all. All I use on my Android phone is e-mail, maps, the browser, and general phone stuff - honestly, I would trade the entire app store for a little more reliability and a better touch screen.

That's why I bought an iPhone; even though I'll never buy a Macbook or other Apple products.

Being able to sync contacts / calendar back and forth to my Google Apps account is priceless.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#59

Post by daeken »

danh wrote: post #53
masklinn wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Android and WP7 make no difference for Nokia. In fact WP7 is clearly a better deal as they can talk and negotiate with Microsoft's moneyhat and they become by far the foremost WP7 phone maker. They bring a lot of hardware expertise and knowledge to Microsoft's camp. Going with Android, they'd just get to get bent. If their choice was to get out of software and choose between WP7 and Android, WP7 is a much better idea…

It seems that Nokia will "become by far the foremost WP7 phone maker" mostly because everyone else shuns it.

Err, what? HTC has 3 (4? Not sure) WP7 phones, LG has at least 2, Samsung has at least 1, Dell has 1, and those are just the ones that I know about. Are there any big exceptions here except Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson?

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#60

Post by jonhohle »

neutronicus wrote: post #45
silvestrov wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Missing apps is like being BeOS: you can be the best OS in the world, but without apps you are not going to sell. App-less, you are nothing in this product segment. Besides, their Mac support is not that great, no support for syncing calendars. This is not 90'ies anymore, you need Mac support at this time to get the teenagers and cool people to use your product.

I don't think it's the same at all. All I use on my Android phone is e-mail, maps, the browser, and general phone stuff - honestly, I would trade the entire app store for a little more reliability and a better touch screen.

Just asking, but wouldn't the iPhone meet that need?
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