Microsoft Buys Nokia’s Phones & Patents

In the biggest post-Labor Day news yet, Microsoft purchased Nokia’s phones and patents today for $7.2 billion. The move brings the Windows Phone 8 together with its hardware support, giving the company totally integrated mobile solutions. Part of the appeal for Microsoft is the low-end Asha brand, which has been acquired outright. The acquisition means that the Windows Phone will be able to reach millions more customers, drastically increasing its market share, and getting customers on track to future purchases of more powerful phones. Ultimately, this means that Microsoft can finally compete with Apple and Blackberry, entirely end-to-end.