Nokia is set to begin discussing the possibility of an acquisition by Microsoft, according to industry insider Eldar Murtazin. The blogger, who has a proven track record of disseminating accurate intel, says negotiations will begin next week and the results will not immediately be made public. If the two giants do work out a sale, however, it could close before the end of 2011. It seems that the deal of selling Nokia to Microsoft is now on the table. Exactly one week ago Microsoft has acquired the Internet Telephony Skype for $8.5 Billion. Is Nokia coming the next?!
Today Eldar Murtazin had this quip on his blog:
Next week Nokia will start the negotiations about the sale of it’s phone unit to Microsoft. For now the results of the negotiations won’t be public, but the deal might close before the end of 2011. Both companies are in a big hurry.
If this came from any other source, I probably would have dismissed it. But coming from a guy who broke the news about the first Nokia Windows Phone deal, weeks before it happened. I’m starting to wonder if this is really the beginning of the end of Nokia?
Nokia PR team stepped in on this issue here in comments and on Twitter with a sort of denial:
We normally don’t comment on rumours as you know, but we have to say that Eldar’s rumours are obviously getting less accurate with every passing moment.
Eldar Murtazin went on to say:
While casting some doubts – it actually does not sound like and outright denial. Something along the lines of “We are not in any negotiations about the sale of the company and do not have any plans to enter into one†– would have sounded more convincing. But I’m not sure if even that would help much at this point.
All it takes, is a look back about how the original story about Nokia Windows phone deal unfolded, and how surprised people at all levels below the very top were. I bet that in January very few people at Nokia were aware that dropping Symbian and Meego, and going Windows Phone 100% was even an option.