Both companies announced in early September that Microsoft buys Nokia's business in the sector of "smart" phone and all of its patents.

Microsoft has paid 3.79 billion euros for the Nokia Devices & Services Business, as well as 1.65 billion for all patents of the company, and became the owner of Nokia.

Under the patent piece of the deal, Microsoft acquired 8,500 design patents covering phone manufacturing from Nokia. Microsoft is also licensing another 30,000 "utility" patents from Nokia for ten years, with the option to renew in perpetuity.

Microsoft licensed the rights to the Nokia brand for existing phones when it announced plans for the acquisition last fall; it also bought outright the Asha and Lumia brands.

As a result of the Nokia acquisition, Microsoft also is acquiring approximately 25,000 new employees located in 50 countries, plus several factories that design and manufacture devices.

In 2011, Nokia began a successful partnership with Microsoft by choosing Windows (Windows Phone) as a mobile platform.