Late last night, Microsoft announced they will be acquiring most of Nokia for about $7.2 billion. Specifically, Microsoft is acquiring Nokia’s Devices & Services business, license Nokia’s patents, and license and use Nokia’s mapping services.
This is a cash deal, where the break down is "EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia’s patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash." They hope the deal closes in the first quarter of 2014.
Techmeme is a buzz about the news, as you would imagine. So I recommend reading some of the top stories there.
It will be interesting to see how this plays in Microsoft's role in search and mobile going forward. Of course, that can take years and years to play out.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
