Microsoft slices and dices its phone business, with a huge $7.6 billion write off and 7,800 jobs cut (NASDAQ:MSFT, NYSE:NOK) Microsoft has just announced that it is cutting a huge 7,800 jobs from its phone business, while it also writes off $7.6 billion in relation to its acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services Division. Considering Microsoft paid $7.2 billion for Nokia's phone business last year, this is quite the check to write.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, explains: "We are moving from a strategy to grow a standalone phone business to a strategy to grow and create a vibrant Windows ecosystem including our first-party device family. In the near-term, we'll run a more effective and focused phone portfolio while retaining capability for long-term reinvention in mobility".
Keep in mind Nadella said back in April that there would be 18,000 job cuts in the next 12 months, these additional 7,800 job losses will add up to over 25,000 employees laid off by Microsoft in just over a 12-month period.
Poster Comment:
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Miker$oft is betting the farm on this month's release of Windows 10, which is a 'FREE SUBSCRIPTION' upgrade. 'Upgrade' is 'free' for all Windows 7 and 8 systems.
Industry speculation abounds that this 'free' upgrade will turn into a paid subscription service after one year.