How the deal between Microsoft and Nokia was forged
Last June the news broke that Microsoft had been very close to buying Nokia Rumors had always been there since The two companies began their collaboration in the smartphone market, but never before has the agreement seemed so close. More than two months later it has come true.
The process began in February of this year, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Although both companies have been talking regularly as part of their association for some time, the acquisition began to take shape in Barcelona and required months of work and more than 50 meetings to reach a successful conclusion.
The meetings between Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nokia, and Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, began under the premise of finding better ways of collaboration between the two companies. But conversations gradually turned to a possible combination that might make sense
Siilasmaa and Ballmer say that many scenarios were considered. In Ballmer's words:
Nokia&39;s mapping service seems to have been key in the deal. The business is one of the few that will remain in the hands of Nokia, but Microsoft will remain as a key client with a certain role in the development and innovation of what for those in Redmond is an absolutely critical service>."
Microsoft acquires the most public parts of NokiaNot only the division of smartphones with the Lumia family will now become part of the North American giant, the entire mobile business will also travel from Espoo to Redmond in what is a golden opportunity for Microsoft to reach the millions of customers who have still to jump into the world of smartphones.
The entire process has ended shortly after Ballmer announced his intention to retire from him as CEO of Microsoft sometime in the next 12 months. His withdrawal appears not to have affected the negotiations, with the Redmonds reiterating their intention to close the deal. Part of this also involves the return of Stephen Elop, current CEO of Nokia, to Microsoft, positioning himself even more as a possible candidate to replace Ballmer.
Via | AllThingsD
