Today, in an epic move to counter competition and establish stronghold on the booming global market for smartphones and mobile devices, the software behemoth Microsoft announced that it will essentially buy all of the the world's 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer Nokia's Devices & Services business and license its patents, as well as license and use its mapping services.
The deal was closed at EUR 5.44 billion (or USD 7.17 billion) in cash. This is the 2nd biggest acquisition Microsoft has ever done, the first one being that of the VOIP and instant messaging service Skype in May 2011.
In an open letter on the Microsoft Blog, the Chief's of the two corporations said that while Microsoft has dreamed of putting a computer on every desk, Nokia has of putting a mobile phone in every pocket and they've come a long way toward realizing those dreams. Today, marks a moment of reinvention.
While, it is hard to say what challenges it will pose for rival device manufacturers Samsung and Apple, it sure is going to pose significant competition to them as well as to Android in the coming years. No to mention that open-source Mozilla and Ubuntu will also mature with their mobile operating systems and devices as well.
For all we can say at this stage, that it is okay to buy a Nokia phone running Windows yet again. With Microsoft as the king, the bullions in its treasury will drive innovation and reinvention of new devices and help evolve both the hardware as well as the Windows Mobile OS powering it. As the Chief's said, it is indeed a moment of reinvention!
