Microsoft Explains the Rationale Behind the Nokia Deal  —  Microsoft is spending $7.17 billion to acquire Nokia's devices and services business and license the company's mapping services, a move that CEO Steve Ballmer characterizes as “a bold step into the future.”

Steve Ballmer on Microsoft's future, and whether Stephen Elop is the next CEO  —  A Q&A with the Microsoft CEO on the eve of his $7.2b purchase of Nokia  —  In a surprising move early Tuesday, Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring Nokia's devices and services division …

The Deal That Makes No Sense  —  Early this morning Microsoft acquired Nokia for €3.79 billion (plus €1.65 billion for patents).  It is a deal that makes no sense.  While industry observers love to pontificate about mergers and acquisitions, the reality is that most ideas are value-destoying.

Microsoft buys Nokia's devices unit in a $7.2 billion bid for its mobile future  —  That's one way to become “a devices and services company”  —  One of the most enticing “what-ifs” of recent years has come true: Microsoft has purchased Nokia's Devices and Services unit, bringing the Lumia lineup under the Redmond roof.

Who's buying whom?  —  When a prosperous company buys a struggling company you have to wonder what they're really buying.  —  Here's how to think about it.  A company is defined as the sum of three values: resources, processes and priorities (RPP).  Everything of value can be classified into these three categories.

Microsoft + Nokia: Now We're All Like Apple  —  Ten years ago, everybody in the tech industry — and I mean everybody — was convinced that the best way to dominate a technology market was to create an operating system and license it to a bunch of other companies.  “The key to success is creating a standard,” said the experts.

A Trojan Horse Once Again?  Stephen Elop, Now EVP Of Devices At Microsoft, Confirmed As An ‘Internal’ Candidate For CEO Slot, As He Lays Out Plans In His Own Words  —  Microsoft's landmark decision to buy Nokia's handset business for $7.2 billion will put Stephen Elop back into business working …

Let's get real: Nobody will license Windows Phone or Windows RT now  —  At a high level, it may sound like Microsoft's $7.17 billion deal to buy Nokia's Devices and Services business is similar to Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola in 2011.  As such, Microsoft will still be licensing …