Finally, what we could see coming over the past few months has finally arrived. Microsoft has announced some major changes in Nokia’s product line-up, with virtually everything except Windows Phone being shown the door.
The current Asha, Series 40 and X series phones will be axed in the near future, although their support will go on for the next 18 months.
Don’t expect updates, though. We aren’t sure about the newly-unveiled Nokia X2, that phone may not even get released, ever.
All the attention is now on the flagship of the company: Windows Phones.
Developmental plans for these secondary series’ have been diverted towards Nokia Lumia, making even cheaper Lumia cell phones a possibility in the future.
Following the announcement was Microsoft’s plans to cut on jobs; as many as 18,000 employees will be waved goodbye by the end of next year.
“We will be particularly focused on making the market for Windows Phone.
In the near term, we plan to drive Windows Phone volume by targeting the more affordable smartphone segments, which are the fastest growing segments of the market, with Lumia.
In addition to the portfolio already planned, we plan to deliver additional lower-cost Lumia devices by shifting select future Nokia X designs and products to Windows Phone devices.
We expect to make this shift immediately while continuing to sell and support existing Nokia X products.” Stephen Elop
The change in Nokia’s line-up was something which eventually had to happen someday, hence, the sooner, the better. Now Microsoft can work harder to make sure that Lumia range penetrates deeper into the low-price market, a place where it is experiencing most of its growth.
18,000 employees……..big figure downsizing is not the solution
Solution for what?
and people here wish to go in Microsoft, a company which plans worst for its employees.
That is one ignorant comment. Layoffs happen after every major acquisition. It’s nothing new. Microsoft gained 32,000 workers after the Nokia buyout, increasing its already massive workforce to a total of 127,000 employees. Of course some of them had to go because of overlapping of roles. In a company as big as Microsoft, these types of changes are necessary to streamline the organization. Why not talk about the 320,000 people all over the world who directly or indirectly earn their living selling Microsoft products? It’s one of the few organizations that give you an equal employment opportunity regardless of gender, race, religion or ethnicity. It’s own CEO is an Indian for crying out loud. Also, when you work for Microsoft, you aren’t just told to pack up and leave one day. The severance package these employees will get is enough to set them for life. Not to mention, just having the name Microsoft under previous work experience on their resumes is guaranteed to get them accepted at the next job they apply for. That is why everyone wishes to go in Microsoft. :)
In short, Nadella launched Nokia X and then thought it was worst decision ever made, laying off employees for recovering loss.
In short, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Nokia X was never launched by Nadella. It was Elop’s (former Nokia CEO) decision and happened before the acquisition. Again, discontinuing it was a sound business decision. Using a mediocre rival OS is one of their products when they had a much superior solution in the form of Windows was sending mixed signals. The job cuts happened due to the reason I explained above so I suggest you read my reply again. As for the losses, there were never any. Because not only is Microsoft one of the most profitable companies in the world, it has never incurred a loss since the day of its inception. Hope it’s clear now.
Simply put, company layoffs is always the worst decision by companies due to bad planning.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA
Microsoft didnt make a loss yet posted a loss for handset division (nokia) of $638million…with nokia, they are dropping profits :)
true.
Well..R.I.P Cheap Androids From Nokia
well they were very very bad in the first place so no bad happened here.
Its time to say BYE BYE to Nokia; Its an Android world rather doing right sizing its better to accept the Android existence and make things like Android to compete
Go Go Nokia to Android, otherwise the future will destroy you!
there is no Nokia for a year, it was microsoft.
Nokia mobile doesn’t exist bhai.
RIP Nokia had great time :D
how hai fitay moun…mein nay abhee telenor say Nokia X liyeh tha :(
lolzzzz…. dur fitay mun to Nokia…. Windows fone b koi smartphone hote hain ???
You are right. Wo to palwaan mobiles hoty hen.
Windows is also an exclusive OZ but personally I hate Nokia :p
For smartphones Microsoft is most idiot decision maker company in world till now.
They have killed one of the most successful phone manufacturer (Nokia) just because of their rubbish OS.
Agree! If Microsoft did not buy Nokia then Nokia will adopt Andriod and today they would be one of the best triumphant like Google and Apple.
You mean like how HTC, Motorola, Sony etc are triumphant after going Android? Fun fact: They are not. They are losing billions of dollars each year and some of them are doing worse of than Nokia. The only company profiting of off Android is Samsung and that is because they spend billions on advertisements and flood the market with handsets in ask prove ranges. Do you know that Samsung’s Galaxy brand is more popular than Android? Basically Samsung made Android. The moment they ditch Android from their phones (which is likely to happen sooner or later since Samsung is developing it’s own OS, Tizen) Android will cease to exist.
It’s difficult for me to believe that you are living in this world.
Nokia was successful in the past but in present they had lost the market and their worth… nokia killed themselves by not innovating as fast as Apple or as vigorously as google.
and chinese feature phone companies are like HELLYEAH
Qmobile and Voice waloon ki Eid ho gai :p
Keep in mind that Microsoft had 90k employees and then got 30k more from Nokia. Of course there will be redundant positions, and of course the direction Nokia inside Microsoft is taking will mean fewer different kinds of factory workers and internal designers/developers.
RIP (Return if Possible) NOKIA :'( :p
Wait foe Android One to arrive in Pakistan .
Good Riddance! it was a silly corporate move to go for And(h)roid with expertise of Nokia & Excellence of Windows OS already in the bag. imagine putting Mercdes P1 engine in Toyoto Corolla woh bhi CNG wali XLI.. that’s how bad those X & Y phones were…
Microsoft should make low end devices like nokia did with their JaVa phones to capture the market before when Qmobile entered & rock the nation.