Distinguished Partner Offers Advice on Microsoft-Nokia Deal
Finally, some clarity in the murky world of the punditsphere. With Microsoft and Nokia on the ropes before they even step into the ring with their mobile partnership, a voice of reason is emerging from Nokia's homeland of Finland.
Actually, Petri Salonen lives in your editor's old hometown of Dallas, but he's a Finn by origin and a keen observer of both Nokia and Microsoft. A former global chairman of the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners, Salonen is not just another blogger with a run-of-the-mill opinion. He's someone whose views carry weight, and he has a message for partners and developers regarding the Microsoft-Nokia deal: Go for it!
Salonen would like to remind everybody that there's some considerable selling power in Microsoft's channel of 600,000-plus partners. Plus, he correctly points out that most of the time, Microsoft is an excellent partner. There is opportunity here if Microsoft, Nokia and the companies in their ecosystem choose to embrace it.
For a refreshing take grounded in realism and not pessimism, check out Salonen's blog entry here. And thank you to Petri for sending this link to RCPU. Please do keep in touch.
By the way, a note on this story: This thing is out of control. Now it appears as though the shareholder revolt that ended on Wednesday was never a revolt to begin with but was a hoax all along. Whatever. Take what you read about this deal with something of a grain of salt. We're not actively reporting on this story -- just following it online, really -- and it seems to be changing more frequently than the protests in the Middle East. In any case, the greater point here is that everybody needs to calm down and wait until there's actually a product from this deal.
Any more comments on the ongoing Microsoft-Nokia saga? Send them to [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on February 17, 2011