Microsoft lays off 2,850 more people in continued retreat from phones
Microsoft is getting rid of another 2,850 workers, continuing a turn away from its failed acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business in 2014, which cost it over $7.2 billion plus later restructuring charges.
The cuts, announced in the company's latest annual report, are on top of 1,850 layoffs disclosed in May, Re/code reported. Roughly 900 people in the new group have already been notified.
With the latest job losses, Microsoft is believed to have nearly eliminated any trace of its Nokia takeover, which was intended to give the company a better chance in the smartphone market. While it still sells phones, these have taken a back seat to developing apps for iOS and Android, and of course its core businesses like Windows, Office, Xbox, and the cloud.
The Nokia takeover was one of Microsoft's last major initiatives under former CEO Steve Ballmer. The deal was closed under his successor, Satya Nadella, but Nadella quickly changed strategies, preferring the aforementioned multi-platform approach -- happy to support other companies' hardware so long as people are still using Microsoft products.
Nokia was once the global leader in phone sales, but was slow to adapt to the changes begun with Apple's iPhone in 2007. By the time it was collaborating with Microsoft on Windows phones in 2011, iOS and Android devices were already firmly in control of the market.
The cuts, announced in the company's latest annual report, are on top of 1,850 layoffs disclosed in May, Re/code reported. Roughly 900 people in the new group have already been notified.
With the latest job losses, Microsoft is believed to have nearly eliminated any trace of its Nokia takeover, which was intended to give the company a better chance in the smartphone market. While it still sells phones, these have taken a back seat to developing apps for iOS and Android, and of course its core businesses like Windows, Office, Xbox, and the cloud.
The Nokia takeover was one of Microsoft's last major initiatives under former CEO Steve Ballmer. The deal was closed under his successor, Satya Nadella, but Nadella quickly changed strategies, preferring the aforementioned multi-platform approach -- happy to support other companies' hardware so long as people are still using Microsoft products.
Nokia was once the global leader in phone sales, but was slow to adapt to the changes begun with Apple's iPhone in 2007. By the time it was collaborating with Microsoft on Windows phones in 2011, iOS and Android devices were already firmly in control of the market.
Comments
Or did he get a golden parachute?
What's really sad is that Microsoft (Ballmer) really screwed the pooch on this opportunity. They did a blunder as bad as PalmOS. Honestly, I think they just don't have the talent needed to make a stellar mobile OS and ecosystem. Being an engineer for Microsoft just isn't as glamorous to a potential candidate as it would be working for Apple or Google.
I just finished upgrading a corporate site from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, all connected to a Windows 2012 Server AD domain. They were running fine in Win 8.1, but the Metro interface was just a wretched piece of shit that no one wanted to use, and since Microsoft was going to start charging for Win10 upgrades, we felt it the time upgrade the workstations. It all went without a hitch, the users are happier, and it has been pretty stable. They made great strides with it.
When clients/friends/family I know that want to buy a non-Mac system, I have zero problem recommending Win10 now. It's still a Windows system with all the PITA problems a Windows system is known for, but it is easier to use imho.
What issues are you having with Win10?
Found it.
http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/2106893/windows-phone-will-overtake-ios-by-2016-idc-predicts
that's quite a strong opinion to have of someone you've never met
How can you talk multi-platform and then get rid of one?
Hey world, remember that upgrade path from 8.1 to 10 we promised you several times, well that isn't going to happen because I just fired everyone who works for us who worked on phones so you won't have to worry about future OS upgrades anymore because there won't be any; clever, non? Now I have more good news for you - before I got rid of the phone guys, I had them run up a bunch of new phone models I think are really exciting..... hey! Where are you all going? Why are you leaving? These are really good, and you won't have to bother with an OS upgrade ever again... Come back.... please... I don't understand...
I use VMs (Parallels and VMWare) but mostly boot directly into external Windows SSDs from my Mac Pro (black tube) simply so I can use both GPUs with Catalyst something a VM can't do and I have to create external boot drives as Apple made the new Mac Pro's SSD boot drive too small. I'm a member of both Window's and Apple's developer groups so have the latest betas. I've used Apple's and Microsoft's OS since the late 1970's and I can't believe there are still so many of the same dumb UI issues in MS. Dialog boxes that you need to see hidden behind others. Driver updates fighting with each other. Any installation requires using 'advanced' just to avoid crap-ware or snooping Click twice and open the same application twice (or more) .... I could go on. I use both macOS Sierra, El Capitan and Windows 10 round the clock .... I'm just an OS junkie, I Iove them all, but Microsoft is just so far behind Apple it isn't even close.
The trick with 10 is to get your head around the new and pathetic security set up. Create an alias of an app and set advanced settings to use as Admin. Also watch One Drive doesn't start doing its own thing without your consent. But yes, 10 is the best so far without doubt.
BTW, I also use Paragon's NTFS for Mac ($20) so I can do a ton of file housekeeping on my Windows drives from the Mac's Finder. It is so much easier! Not to mention mount multiple prime / active Windows volumes and partitions to copy prorgams etc. between Windows boot disks. Try that under Windows!
Some of the best engineers in existence work for Microsoft. People shouldn't mistake poor ,adage end for technical ineptitude.
I've been watching this train wreck for years and I still don't really understand how they failed so badly in the mobile space.
Hhmph.
The last five years at Microsoft summarised into three paragraphs. Quite sad really.
Nadella knows what he's doing; he just can't tell anybody yet. Microsoft is going all out cloud. They're settling back into a back-seat tech role where they can make money on services and subscriptions. It happens to all tech companies eventually.
And one of the early symptoms is when news of product launches is replaced by news of complex financial engineering.