Slashdot Mirror
Nokia Names Microsoft's Elop As New CEO
itwbennett writes "Nokia has tapped Stephen Elop, former president of Microsoft's business software group, to become its new CEO effective Sept. 21. Elop will replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, who loses his board seat immediately and will step down from the CEO position on Sept. 20. Microsoft said Elop will leave immediately, but the company doesn't seem to be rushing to fill the vacancy at the top of one of its largest divisions. 'I am writing to let you know that Stephen Elop has been offered and has accepted the job as CEO of Nokia and will be leaving Microsoft, effective immediately,' Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wrote in a letter to employees late Thursday."
Not to defend the decision, but Elop is from the Office division, so you can hardly blame him for Microsoft's failure in the mobile market.
What decline? They've lost market share because the market has grown so much. They sold over 5 million more smartphones 2009 Q2 -> 2010 Q2 source: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1421013
A lot of people are asking why a guy from Microsoft?
Basically, Nokia didn't hire a "Microsoft exec", but Stephen Elop of lately Microsoft, but previously of Juniper Networks, Adobe and Macromedia, a software guy with a reputation of excellent communication skills. That might be a very good move, Nokia can make mobile hardware as well as anyone, it's their software and services that have been the problem and not just lately, but at least since 2000.
One of article gives a good overview.
http://www.itworld.com/business/120236/nokia-names-microsofts-elop-new-ceo
The Guardian has very nice article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/sep/10/nokia-stephen-elop-smartphone
Only thing I can think to add, that I read in Finnish media, was that Elop handled Microsoft's relations with Nokia and is relatively well known inside Nokia's boardroom already.
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers - Pablo Picasso
N900 was a 'public prototype', not something that could be a really competitive product. But if you liked it, just wait few weeks for the premiere of they new - MeeGoo based - device. some inside sources that should remain unnamed are claiming that it is going to be a big thing.
Um, no. NITdroid does not let you make phone calls, and it does not support power management.
Get Nokia. Marc Brown wasn't in phones either. Dominance of Nokia and Symbian would trump Android. Microsoft poaches two Symbian execs. Gates' retaliation plans.
Any other questions?