Lower than expected? Whose expectance? Given Microsofts track record in mobile devices I think no one expected Microsoft to really be able to compete. And given Nokia's track record in smart phones, nobody expected Nokia to be able to push Microsoft up either. But as it is now, it seems they've actually been able to. They've managed to punch a small but significant hole in the Android market, against all odds, by building some truly excellent products.
Who'd have thought Microsoft would some day produce an integrated mobile product that you could prefer over an Apple product without being made out a fool?
> During Elop's tenure, Nokia annual revenues fell 40% from 41.7 Billion Euros per year to 25.3 Billion Euros per year. Nokia profits fell 92% from 2.4 Billion Euros per year to 188 Million Euros per year. Nokia handset sales fell 40% from 456 million units per year to 274 million units per year. Nokia share price which was at 7.12 Euros on the day Elop was hired, had fallen to 81% to a bottom level of 1.44 Euros two years later, after which it began trading at 4.14 Euros, up 36% on the day. Elop's success in negotiating the sale of Nokia's struggling mobile device business to Microsoft has been described by many securities analysts as a significant victory for NOK shareholders, particularly when viewed in context of failed efforts by Blackberry or HP to secure value for handset business owned by those companies.
I had to reread it 5 times. I am still not convinced. Yes, that last sentence gives me the impression it has the words "significant victory" and "success", but my brain is simply unwilling to accept that as a valid conclusion.
Who'd have thought Microsoft would some day produce an integrated mobile product that you could prefer over an Apple product without being made out a fool?