Microsoft MUST Buy HERE from Nokia

[Ian S.]

HERE's Why:

• Here has Transit, Drive, Maps, and CityLens
• HERE is up to date
• Bing Uses HERE
• Google is the monopoly in maps
• HERE is a good brand, better than Bing Maps
• HERE provides live traffic
• HERE is on Windows and Windows for mobile
• If Apple buys HERE they will cut cross platform
• If Uber (rumored) buys HERE it will die buy fading into oblivion and nothingness
• If Yahoo! buys HERE it will either die OR it will succeed and they will ditch Bing completely
• If Google buys HERE (not likely) HERE won't be there (Windows), there (iOS), and there (Android) it will be only on Android and iOS w/ Google's argument being Windows has no users
• Google owns waze
• Microsoft has money to spare, Ballmer wanted it in the first place (according to Thurrott), and the board denied it
• It would benefit all Windows devices
• Microsoft only has a four year agreement with Nokia for HERE maps licensing
• HERE offline maps

 

Thoughts?

[GotBored]

I think its more likely that if Microsoft acquired Here it would fail, pretty much every large acquisition Microsoft has made in recent years have been big blunders except for Skype.

Skype is still huge but it is getting a lot of competition now.

 

Microsoft also already bought the Nokia's device and services division and the MS board thought it would be a great investment, unfortunately not many others thought the same and MS stocks dropped 4.5% after the announcement. So far it also looks like another blunder by MS.

 

But I remember reading articles about the deal and the board (including Bill Gates) were hesitant to purchase Nokia handset division because it was too expensive and also because it came with a mapping unit MS didn't need. Not sure what it means by mapping unit possible Here but regardless MS seem to think they got that area covered.

[theyarecomingforyou]

• HERE is a good brand, better than Bing Maps

Really? As a non-WP user I'd never even heard of it before this post, whereas I at least knew about Bing Maps. Microsoft would be better off creating its own service. I mean, it's not like Nokia is even an expert in the area. It's time for Microsoft to innovate, not simply buy up rival services.

[Ian S.]

Really? As a non-WP user I'd never even heard of it before this post, whereas I at least knew about Bing Maps. Microsoft would be better off creating its own service. I mean, it's not like Nokia is even an expert in the area. It's time for Microsoft to innovate, not simply buy up rival services.

Think about this... Apple hasn't innovate at all, neither has Google. Microsoft has Hololens, Universal Apps and others. Bing (I think) is powered by Here or in conjunction with Here.

[eiffel_g]

Really? As a non-WP user I'd never even heard of it before this post, whereas I at least knew about Bing Maps. Microsoft would be better off creating its own service. I mean, it's not like Nokia is even an expert in the area. It's time for Microsoft to innovate, not simply buy up rival services.

It's also on Android - I have it, and i think on iPhone.

 

Anyway - this is not gonna happened. Specifically Nokia has removed HERE from the Microsoft Aquisition, as it has better plans on it.

[Ian S.]

It's also on Android - I have it, and i think on iPhone.

 

Anyway - this is not gonna happened. Specifically Nokia has removed HERE from the Microsoft Aquisition, as it has better plans on it.

It no longer fits with their strategy as the new Alcatel telecom acquisition is where they are heading. They are reevaulating here with the possibility of selling it,

 

http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2015/04/15/nokia-has-initiated-a-review-of-strategic-options-for-its-here-business

 

Are you saying they won't sell it at all? Or that they won't let Microsoft have it? This is about them selling it, in which case Microsoft needs to grab it.

[Ian S.]

Who would buy it other than Microsoft?

[chrisj1968]

I think the real problem is, closing of markets. it would be prudent if a WP user who also has an android could use familiar apps over both OS's. if not, the chasm between android and WP will only increase. developers have to get on board and build their apps based upon the varying OS's.

 

example would be office for iOS. some probably have both windows systems and OSX and familiarity will help  ease people with the programs.

Edited April 16, 2015 by chrisj1968

[Bryan R.]

I completely agree. All of your reasons are completely valid. It is far better than Microsoft Maps and I'm not sure what Nokia is going to do with it now.