Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Ericsson (ADR) (NASDAQ:ERIC)
Microsoft CEO search now gets interesting (MarketWatch)
Now, his name is being tossed about as the lead candidate to replace Steve Ballmer, who announced that he would retire as CEO of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) within the year. But he isn’t necessarily a shoe-in. As the conspiracy theory goes, Elop, who was in charge of Microsoft’s business division — including its popular Office suite — got the top job at Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) +2.81% , as a sort of secret emissary to do Microsoft’s bidding. Elop’s “Burning Platform” memo early in his tenure, which was leaked to the press, compared Nokia’s situation in smartphones and its aging Symbian operating system software to standing on a burning oil rig.
Why Nokia Didn’t Sell Its Patents To Microsoft? (SiliconIndia)
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) might have sold its handset business to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), but the company will be retaining its valuable patent profile to get a big payoff at the expense of Android phone makers, as reported by Reuters. After making a 3.79 billion Euro deal for Nokia’s ownership, Microsoft has also agreed on a 10-year license deal for Nokia’s patents by paying an extra sum of 1.65 billion Euros. “This involves the right to, in effect, make use of Nokia’s inventions”, claimed Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith. “It doesn’t involve the transfer or ownership of the patents itself.”
Microsoft Out $18 Billion From Ballmer’s Nokia Deal (BusinessWeek)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s $7.2 billion takeover of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)’s handset business cost shareholders more than twice that as it dashed hopes for a fresh start under Steve Ballmer’s successor. …Microsoft is chasing growth in a market already dominated by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) with devices that generate lower returns than the company’s business-software division (MSFT:US). Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) CEO Stephen Elop is returning to Microsoft as part of the asset sale, making him Ballmer’s most likely successor and signaling that the company is in smartphones for the long haul, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. said, even as some shareholders say that strategy is misplaced.
Ericsson Closes Acquisition Of Microsoft’s Mediaroom Business And TV Solution (RTTNews)
Swedish telecommunications equipments maker Ericsson (ADR) (NASDAQ:ERIC) said that it has completed the acquisition of software giant Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Mediaroom business and TV solution. Mediaroom is based in Mountain View, California, and is comprised of more than 400 people worldwide. The former Mediaroom business unit, including staff, will be integrated into the Ericsson group under the Business Unit Support Solutions, and will be called Ericsson Mediaroom as of today, Ericsson (ADR) (NASDAQ:ERIC) said.
Top three trades (CNBC)
