Microsoft's big moves: buying Nokia for new CEO

Microsoft announced today that it would buy a Nokia mobile phone business with € 3.79 billion, a decision that happened after Microsoft CEO Ballmer Steve Ballmer to retire within a year. "It Business News" (reporter Haicheng) today Microsoft announced that it would buy the Nokia mobile phone business unit with € 3.79 billion and a total of $7.17 billion for its patent portfolio of 1.65 billion euros. Some analysts believe the move will make Windows Phone 8 "soft and hard", and Microsoft will be able to provide an integrated solution across hardware and software. It is reported that the transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014, the need for Nokia shareholders and relevant agencies approved. The decision coincided with the retirement of Microsoft CEO Ballmer Steve Ballmer a year ago, and Nokia CEO Elop was once considered one of the candidates to succeed Ballmer. But "given the composition of board members and the way they have become accustomed to Mr Ballmer's leadership," Jeffrey Rebert, Senior advisor to Castanea, Inc., a senior digital strategy analyst, said Jeffrey F. Rayport. The board is more likely to look for a successor. "Irene Nor Blocksham, an enterprise management consultant, believes that Microsoft's board needs to reduce the amount of board directors from the banking industry and to increase the number of talented people and board members who are innovative, knowledgeable about the mobile business and the latest software industry." According to people familiar with the matter, Microsoft's choice of existing board members is partly because they know more about the needs of big companies, and Microsoft's technology-backed board members are familiar with the next generation's technology trends. However, there are indications that the Microsoft Board may seek advice from outside the company. In August each year, the directors will have a private meeting with the executives below Ballmer's position to understand Ballmer and the company. A year ago, Microsoft directors also met with two telecoms executives to listen to their views on improvements to the smartphone business.