Nokia Struggling Meet 2011 Expectations – Microsoft to Purchase Nokia For $19 Billion Rumor? (update)
June 1, 2011 No CommentsNokia is in the middle of a transition from Symbian to Windows Phone 7. As a result the company is having a difficult time meeting their expected sales for 2011. Nokia has confirmed that they will begin shipping out Windows Phone 7 devices in the fourth quarter, but have to take action in order to try and salvage their numbers for 2011 and move more Symbian devices.
In a statement, Nokia said that its devices and services unit will produce second quarter sales “substantially below its previously expected range of EUR 6.1 billion to EUR 6.6 billion for the second quarter 2011.”
At this point Nokia seems to be unsure of how things will pan out for the year. “it is no longer appropriate to provide annual targets for 2011.”
Nokia is making an attempt to improve things by boosting its’ retail marketing and adding capabilities to Symbian to push sales.
Right now it can be said that Nokia has all their eggs in one basket. Nokia has everything riding on Windows Phone 7 and they know it. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said:
“We recognize the need to deliver great mobile products, and therefore we must accelerate the pace of our transition. Our teams are aligned, and we have increased confidence that we will ship our first Nokia product with Windows Phone in the fourth quarter 2011.”
[smartads]
What the year holds for Nokia we can’t say, but if their Windows Phone 7 devices meet the expectations of consumers then I think it will be safe to provide annual targets for 2012.
There is also a hollow rumor going around that Microsoft will be purchasing Nokia for $19 Billion dollars. The rumor though is coming from Eldar Murtazin, who lately is about 50/50.
“One small software company decided last week that they could spent 19 bln USD to buy a part of small phone vendor,” wrote Murtazin in a tweet on Tuesday. “Thats it,” he added. – winrumors
I honestly do not forsee this happening especially since Microsoft would then be angering all it’s Windows Phone manufacturing partners.
Update: Nokia has claimed that the rumor is “completely baseless”
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