After years of procrastination, Nokia announced Tuesday morning at dawn, he would sell his business “mobile phones” to Microsoft for trifle of EUR 5.44 billion. Correct amount for the former world number one mobile, which disposes of an operation that could no longer profitable. Always placed in the ranking of sales in units, he struggles to balance its books because it essentially sells low-end devices. The noble and most profitable segment of the smartphone is largely acquired phones with Android (Google), manufactured by Samsung in particular, and Apple iPhone. However, Nokia woke up in 2011 by launching a full range of smartphones: the Lumia. These exclusively equipped with the new system Microsoft mobile devices, Windows Phone 8, have become a benchmark for quality and reliability. The advantages of U.S. software also play in his favor, with an innovative interface and a well-known public name. But its disadvantages are obvious, including the lack of compatible applications, due to the young age of the operating system. Since the launch of Windows Phone in 2010, Microsoft had tied with Nokia a very strong partnership, never undermined attempts by the Taiwanese HTC and Korea’s Samsung. And it starts to take: sales Lumia allow Windows Phone exceed Apple in two countries (Australia and Mexico) and return to the big in many others, according to the latest figures released Tuesday by Kantar and commented by PCInpact. “Microsoft has made such a big hit in France, with 11% of smartphone sales” between May and July 2013, says the specialized site, which represents an increase of 7.4 percentage points year on year. If the press was first sent information focusing on a hypothetical end of the road for Nokia, it is clear that this is great news for European manufacturer. Moreover, Nokia shares jumped 47% to the opening of the Helsinki Stock Exchange Tuesday, climbing to 4.36 euros, its best score in two years. In recent months, the prospect of a takeover by an Asian giant was more credible, which would almost inevitably been accompanied by the disappearance of the corporate culture. In June, the Chinese behemoth Huawei, tipped as the next world number one, had declared his interest for redemption prior to deny. Taking refuge at Microsoft, Nokia phones save – a priori – the essentials. According to the statement of the Nordic, 32,000 of its employees come under the fold of Microsoft, which for 4700 Finland alone. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by the competition authorities. Tuesday’s decision was described as “the best way to move forward, both for Nokia and its shareholders,” the chairman of the Finnish group, Risto Siilasmaa, who is also temporarily take the place of CEO Stephen Elop. The former CEO of Nokia integrates Microsoft as Executive Vice President, and must lead the transition of its teams in the American press. It will also lead teams of Xbox and tablet surface. “To accelerate our growth in mobile, we thought it was important to move more quickly,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, who announced his retirement next. Nokia said it would now focus its activity on the services, including the location (with ICI) and networks (with NSN). In August, the group had also acquired in Germany the 50% that had been lacking in the Nokia Siemens Network (NSN fame) joint venture, probably in anticipation of the deal with Microsoft and its reorientation. Its patent portfolio, one of the world provided in the area, it should also provide significant revenue. After this major event on the market, can not help but think of two redemptions. That of Motorola by Google in August 2011 to 12.5 billion euros, more than double today’s transaction, the difference being explained by the fact that Nokia keeps its patent portfolio. And that of Ericsson shares in Sony Ericsson by the Japanese, still in 2011. These precedents concerned Nokia employees: Google had fired 4,000 Motorola employees a few days after the purchase, and Microsoft could follow in his footsteps …
The best is the enemy of the good
The specter of layoffs
