Microsoft to Acquire Nokia Devices and Services Business, Finally.

OK, who won the pool? If you chose September, 2013 then claim your winnings. If you chose September 2 or September 3, 2013 then you won the jackpot.

Many saw it coming since Stephen Elop was appointed as Nokia CEO back on September 10, 2010. Microsoft is set to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services. (Microsoft | Nokia)

Microsoft to Acquire Nokia

The timing is a little peculiar though, just about ten days after Steve Ballmer announced his planned retirement from being Microsoft CEO.

From the Press Release:

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia’s patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash. Microsoft will draw upon its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

EUR 5.44 billion equals that’s USD 7.14 billion on September 2, 2013.And that’s in cash!

For comparison, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for USD 12.5 billion in cash.

Who else would sell Windows Phone after the acquisition is completed?

Microsoft-Nokia

p.s. Nokia loses $151 million in Q2 2013 while increasing sales of its Lumia lines.

Nokia, You’ve gotta be kidding me!

Meatloaf is not amused

From GigaOM:

Nokia has confirmed reports that its Xpress Browser decrypts data that flows through HTTPS connections – that includes the connections set up for banking sessions, encrypted email and more. However, it insists that there’s no need for users to panic because it would never access customers’ encrypted data.

Nokia is playing the role of the man in the middle with the Xpress Browser. Nokia installs its own SSL/TLS certificate in the XPress Browser so it could create a secure/encrypted session to Nokia’s own server. The server then initiates https session with the website.

Does anyone remember what Opera Mini does?

Some corporate networks use proxy that request https session on the proxy on behalf of the computers in their networks.

Microsoft partners with Nokia on Mobile Phone.

Everyone saw it coming, Microsoft and Nokia are joining forces on mobile phones. After all, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has too much of Microsoft’s connection.

The proposed partnership includes:

  • Nokia adopts Windows Phone 7 as its primary platform/strategy.
  • Bing becomes the default search engine on Nokia phones.
  • Nokia maps will be integrated with Microsoft’s mapping service.

Does this mean Android is not an option for Nokia?
Would this happen if Stephen Elop or any ex-Microsoft Employees not the CEO of Nokia?

In a way Nokia is to Mobile Industry like Microsoft is to computer industry.

Vic Gundotra did know about this deal. Engadget has the details.