Nokia's mobile business (devices and services) is officially owned by Microsoft starting today, fulfilling an agreement both companies entered into last September. It is a Spring of change in the industry as Microsoft now lays claim to all the patents, expertise and some of the personnel that Nokia acquired through decades of being the leading mobile handset maker.
"Today we welcome the Nokia Devices and Services business to our family. The mobile capabilities and assets they bring will advance our transformation. Together with our partners, we remain focused on delivering innovation more rapidly in our mobile-first, cloud-first world," said Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.
Canadian Stephen Elop, a former Microsoftie who took over Nokia in time to point out it was on a 'Burning Platform," ushered in the Lumia age of Windows Phone and will be returning back to his roots in Microsoft as head of the hardware division (yes that includes XBox, keyboards, mice and Surface). A fitting reward for a champion who divided and conquered a foreign army and brought home its best pieces and people.
"As Microsoft and Nokia Devices and Services come together as an expanded family, we will unify our passion, dedication and commitment to bringing you the best of what our joint technologies have to offer," Elop stated in his final memo as Nokia CEO.