How Ballmer Snagged Nokia For Free

Was the just-announced partnership between Microsoft ($MSFT) and Nokia ($NOK) actually a coup?  Was ex-Microsoft exec and now-current CEO of Nokia Stephen Elop merely Ballmer’s Trojan Horse?

The blog Apple Outsider certainly believes so, and they’ve been watching this mess go on for years now…

So in the span of one year, we have Microsoft failing to acquire Nokia, “losing” a top executive, and now having one of the most recognizable mobile hardware vendors in the world under its thumb. There’s no question in my mind that the next generation of flagship Windows Phones will come from Nokia, and for that, Microsoft will have unprecedented influence over the hardware that runs its software. We like to think of Steve Ballmer throwing chairs when his executives leave. I think this time he told Elop, “Fine. Go get me some hardware I can own.” Elop did.

Head over for the true story of how Microsoft may have just gained control of Nokia for nuthin’.

Source:

Microsoft Buys Nokia for $0 Billion (Apple Outsider)