Steve Ballmer talks about regrets Microsoft smartphone

Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has opened up about the company's constant regret about missing out on the dawn of the smartphone.

With Windows Phone, Microsoft platform 8 slowly starting to recover lost ground on the leading Smartphones like Google and Apple, Ballmer revealed that missing the first wave of smartphone growth is his biggest regret from his time in charge the Redmond-based company.

"I regret that there was a period in the early 2000 when we were so focused on what we had to do around Windows that weren't able to redistribute the talent for the new device form factor called on the phone," he said while addressing analysts in Washington.

Re-evaluate his tenure as CEO Microsoft before his retirement imminent, the charismatic leader of the company said: "this is the thing I want to say that I regret more, because the time we lost was about the time we were working away on Vista and I now we had our distributed resources slightly differently in that period".

He added: "it would have been better for our success in other form factors and best for Windows."

This summer, Microsoft confirmed that Ballmer will resign from his position as head of Microsoft within the next year. While the exact date of change has yet to be set, the software Disables hardware maker revealed that the search for a replacement has already begun.

In an attempt to Boost its smartphone efforts, Microsoft announced this month to buy out the mobile arm of the former giant Nokia smartphones.

"It's a bold step into the future-a win-win for employees, shareholders and customers of both companies," Ballmer said of the £4,6 billion deal.

He added: "Bringing these great teams will accelerate the Microsoft share and profits in telephones and strengthen overall opportunities for Microsoft and our partners across our family of devices and services."

To learn more: Review Nokia Lumia 1020

Via: Telegraph

View the original article here

Microsoft does not ditch Samsung, HTC, and buying Windows Phone partners 8 Despite Nokia

Microsoft could have bought the smartphone Nokia development could, but this does not mean that it will turn away from the likes of Samsung and HTC when it comes to Windows Phone support 8.

Microsoft confirmed last night that it had decided to buy weapons of Nokia devices and services for £ 4 billion. This means that Microsoft will soon have the ability to design and build your own Windows Phone smartphone high end 8.

However, this does not mean that it will terminate the relationship with the third party manufacturer of smartphones like HTC (who contributed the HTC 8 x, pictured) and Samsung, which have developed Windows Phone devices in recent years.

Microsoft operating systems EVP Terry Myerson was quick to publish a blog post assuring our customers that would keep Windows Phone 8 as an open platform, and Microsoft partners.

"Nokia devices group Acquisition will help make the market for all Windows phones, from Microsoft, or from our OEM partners," said Myerson.

"Our partners bring innovation, diversity and scale for Windows," he said, before pointing to a "breadth of choice in form factor, finishing and materials that offer unique devices at a variety of price points.

Myerson has then proceeded to attempt to head off any concern over discretion and favouritism that might have such third party manufacturers. "We collaborate with our Microsoft hardware team in the same way we collaborate with our partners external hardware: we discuss technical and commercial opportunities discreetly," he explained.

The message is clear enough, then. Microsoft could have bought the company responsible for about 80 percent of sales of Windows Phone device, but Microsoft still needs that other 20 percent to bring the smartphone battle to Apple and Google.

Next, read our review of Nokia Lumia 925

View the original article here

Microsoft buys Nokia, betting on the success without partners

Opinion:In the last three months Microsoft has shown Xbox's future, the future of Windows, the future of his company and now the future of mobile business ... and it's a bet that hurts to read for partners.

The deal in a nutshell is this: Microsoft will pay €5,44 billion (£ 4 billion) to Nokia for its devices and Services Division and the rights to license its patents and mapping services. Nokia employees affected will stay where they are but become employees of Microsoft and Nokia will evolve to become a telecommunications infrastructure business. The deal should go through in Q1 2014.

Microsoft buy Nokia: what does it mean for Microsoft
As Apple and in lesser extent Google and Samsung, Microsoft now has vertical integration in the market-i.e. makes software and hardware. This model allows you to develop Windows Phone handsets and Lumia (if the branding remains) together and then optimizing design, functionality, performance and profit maximization.

Basically, the agreement will also give Microsoft Access to emerging markets. 45.5 percent of shipments Nokia was in Greater China, Middle East, Africa and Latin America in 2012.

Microsoft buy Nokia: what does it mean to his rivals
To its competitors the deal should see a Microsoft more competitive, but the company's decision to build their own phones will also enter into direct competition with its partners of Windows Phone from Microsoft.

In fact, this is likely to put more effort on Microsoft by the likes of HTC, Samsung and ZTE as none have consistently indicated a strong commitment to the operating system and is now able to compete with the Microsoft license fee charges itself: nothing. Given this scenario, many can also ditch Windows Phone development altogether.

The problem for them is that would mean throwing all their eggs in one basket with Android (except Samsung who Tizen) – and Google is ramping up its Nexus and Motorola ranges.

Of course, Microsoft alone in telephones would be new territory for the company and for the moment is trying to appease partners. EVP for operating systems companies, Terry Myerson, said today "[deal] will make the market for all Windows phones, from Microsoft, or from our OEM partners."

But the fact is Microsoft earns substantial royalties from Android and Nokia patents only purchases are likely to increase that so partner – given their underwhelming efforts – will not be the primary concern.


Microsoft buy Nokia: what it means for you
In the short term the answer is: not much. For the next 3-6 months, Nokia phones will continue to be sold as before and even after buying Nokia roadmap next year will be set in stone for a period that could be a few years before the first cell phone really inspired to go on sale. Watch Google Calendar buy Motorola (August 2011) and Moto X (August 2013).

Microsoft will also honor all warranties by Nokia while keeping all employees of Nokia, so little is expected to change in the supply chain.

The flip side, Microsoft and Nokia have worked together since their exclusive partnership started in February 2011, so what you see by Lumias today is unlikely to be far from the vision of Microsoft. Microsoft also enforces a number of rigorous design, button layout and hardware parameters anyway, so why do you want to see radical change?

Microsoft and Nokia: why you should care
If little is likely to change in the short term, so why should you care? Because things will change substantially in the long term.

The most likely to suffer are smaller laptop makers as the deal reduces the reliance on Windows Phone but pushes them in bed with Android, which weakens them as choice evaporates. Google, if it make you feel doubly safe and see him push your hardware (either via the Nexus brand or Motorola) remains to be seen.

Similarly, the deal will vindicate the decision of Samsung executives to develop and could see Tizen accelerate the schedule for portable Tizen releases. Their success will make or break his long-term relationship with Google.

As for Apple, knows that Microsoft now has new supply chain efficiencies and best opportunity to accelerate the development of Windows Phone, which means you will need to regain lost momentum.

It is questionable if it sees the deal as a chance to eradicate the Windows Phone with iPhone as Apple is unlikely to hit the bargain price tags of the entry-level Lumias.

Microsoft and Nokia: questions remain
So the general consensus is while the deal will change little in the short term the multiplier will be significant long-term effects. There are still important questions:
Back to Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop, Microsoft has made the new favorite to take over from Steve Ballmer. But it is the man who has probably brought down Nokia of demolition its independence really visionary software to advance your business?As a fan of Microsoft and Windows Phone reacts to a potentially closed business model and it will push them toward Android-Microsoft can really survive without a partner?Nokia has really left the business laptop? Small print on front only forbids Nokia to do phones under its own brand until December 31, 2015, then the reins are off. Jolla might the more elaborate textures of spin-off, then restore the abandoned project MeeGo with Intel?And finally (and more imaginatively) to ' the Trojan horse '? Ever since Elop joined Nokia from Microsoft in September 2010 was talking about a secret role to) make the company dependent on Microsoft, b) break down its economic value and thus c) get Microsoft cell division through a buy-out. All three have made, but Elop will never clean? We doubt it.

View the original article here

Microsoft officially acquires Nokia's devices & service units

(Just yet) surprising ways Microsoft has a range of Nokia devices and services shares purchase, achieved. The deal includes also the Finnish company patents and mapping services.

Among the realized after agreement between the boards of both companies Microsoft pays 3.79 billion for the devices and services. Microsoft will pay 1.65 billion for a 10-year license to the use of Nokia's patents. However, patent model between the Espoo and Redmond is not exclusive and the Finns are freely their patents to other companies, as well as to license.

This brings the total amount of the transaction 5.44 billion total. The giant Redmond will pay the sum in cash.

The deal look back Nokia CEO Stephen Elop to Microsoft, where he will lead the equipment Division. Risto Siilasmaa be Nokia's CEO ad interim going forward.

Once completed, transferred 32,000 people at Microsoft. Out of these, 4,700 in Finland are while 18.300 directly in the production and Assembly of products are involved worldwide.

The agreement is expected in the first quarter of 2014, after it goes through the usual round of regulatory approvals.

Check more coverage of the offer in our blog, here and here.

Source 1. Source 2. Source 3

View the original article here