The dynamics of the reorganisation are also interesting as Nadella promoted Terry Myerson, a key lieutenant, to managing the newly created Windows and Devices group, presumably placing an ideological companion in charge of what is arguably the biggest part of Microsoft, at least currently.
What will happen to Nokia over the next few years remains to be seen but already the company has started to be consumed by Microsoft as a whole, as the Nokia brand is no longer present on the phones that the company sells. This, however, is still a moot point as there have been no new major updates to the Lumia line since the company was acquired, beyond handsets aimed at emerging markets.
Various outlets have reported that Microsoft is going to bring out a new phone alongside the release of Windows 10 for Phones, a new handset which would show off everything that the new operating system has to offer (Continuum won't work on current handsets, according to Microsoft). The success, or lack thereof, of this handset, predominantly in terms of unit sales, will likely decide what Microsoft ultimately does with the company – and it is telling that Elop didn't even make it to this day of reckoning, whether that was his choice or that of the other executives.
Google and Motorola parallel
A comparison that can be drawn is that of Google buying Motorola, a company that it then used to produce a series of handsets that were flagships for Android. The dynamics, especially in the market, are very different – Microsoft is incredibly rich, far more so than Google; Android is very popular, Windows Phone is not – but it is clear to see that with the help of a kind and loving parent, a handset manufacturer can work wonders.
The Moto X, G and E received excellent reviews with the Moto X even being rated above the iPhone, an achievement for any Android phone. Replicating this success could be a possibility for Microsoft, especially as the company has a lot more cash than Google, but it's likely that Microsoft faces a write-down of the Nokia acquisition rather than a sale like Google achieved.
Ultimately, Nadella's vision appears to be in full effect and his bold and decisive hirings and firings are just one way that this manifests itself, especially when it comes to the top level executives of a company that cost Redmond an absolute fortune. Whether he will be successful remains to be seen and there is still a propensity for Microsoft to muck up.
The confusion over who will get Windows 10 for free, for example, is classic mixed messaging from the company, just as the world saw with the announcement of the Xbox One and the fiasco over the DRM of games. Of course, if the implementation is smooth and attractive then Microsoft will be a step further on the path of utilising Nokia in a productive way, and Nadella obviously believes that this must come from the top, working its way down to the bottom of the company.
