The Microsoft-Nokia deal will finally be sealed on Friday, April 25. Now that the $7 billion deal has made it through all the regulatory hoops, more details have been revealed.
Over the weekend, a leaked letter from Nokia to its suppliers stated that the Nokia Devices and Services division will now be known as Microsoft Mobile Oy, a subsidiary of Microsoft. Although the Microsoft announcement doesn't confirm this new title, Microsoft Mobile will most likely be the name of the mobile device division.
The announcement did state that there will be several key changes made to the original Microsoft-Nokia deal now that it is officially going into effect. Most of the changes are minor, behind-the-scenes alterations, but they will still have an impact on the future of Nokia's Devices and services division.
One of the more interesting changes is that Microsoft will now be in charge of Nokia's social media presence and website, nokia.com, for as long as a year. This development is a bit odd, seeing as Nokia will still be its own company, just on a much smaller scale than before. For Microsoft, it is a good way to ensure that there is no confusion or controversy generated by conflicting marketing messages between the two companies. It will also theoretically help smooth the transition for Nokia's customers.
Another aspect of the deal revolves around former Nokia employees and their futures at Microsoft. Nokia's former CEO, Stephen Elop, will return to Microsoft as the head of the company's hardware division. Some 32,000 other Nokia employees will also transfer to Microsoft. Several members of Nokia's Chief Technology Office will also move from working on Nokia phones in China to working on Microsoft Mobile phones.
Since so many of Nokia's former employees will be heading to Microsoft Mobile, it's safe to assume that the overall appearance and style of future Nokia devices that will debut under the Microsoft Mobile brand name will stay in tune with Nokia Lumia design principles.
Ever since Nokia put all its eggs in Microsoft's basket with the promise of making exclusively Windows Phone 8 smartphones, both companies' fortunes have started to rise. Nokia's Lumia lineup was well received in many parts of the world, especially in South America, for its strong specifications and colorful design. The Windows Phone operating system has greatly increased its user base and will continue to do so as the OS and the Windows Phone hardware improves.
Given the relative success of the Nokia Lumia lineup, it makes sense that Microsoft would want to maintain consistency. Ideally, the transition from Nokia to Microsoft Mobile should go so smoothly that it is almost unnoticeable. If Microsoft wants to make a splash in mobile, it needs this acquisition of Nokia to work.
Microsoft has already taken care of half the work with its new Windows Phone 8.1 update, which brings much-needed functionality, simplicity and beauty to the OS. Virtual assistant Cortana will certainly help propel Windows Phone forward in the great mobile OS race. Now all Microsoft needs is many more high-quality Lumia smartphones to bring the company back to life. Microsoft's purchase of Nokia might just prove to be the smartest thing the company has done since it invented the PC all those years ago.
