To be honest, I doubt it was how Microsoft planned it turning out. It certainly wasn't Plan A.
Microsoft had already made a significant cash injection into Nokia. Plan A would have been for the Lumia handsets to be a massive success, and for Windows Phone to gain significant traction.
Although you could argue there has been some progress towards this, it hasn't been fast enough for either Microsoft or Nokia. Nokia's current strategy with Windows Phone simply isn't working. They're at a point where they either a) change the business plan, or b) find another source of cash to pay the bills.
Since 'changing the business plan' in this case would have been hugely detrimental to Microsoft the acquisition was inevitable, but far from ideal for both parties.
Microsoft had already made a significant cash injection into Nokia. Plan A would have been for the Lumia handsets to be a massive success, and for Windows Phone to gain significant traction.
Although you could argue there has been some progress towards this, it hasn't been fast enough for either Microsoft or Nokia. Nokia's current strategy with Windows Phone simply isn't working. They're at a point where they either a) change the business plan, or b) find another source of cash to pay the bills.
Since 'changing the business plan' in this case would have been hugely detrimental to Microsoft the acquisition was inevitable, but far from ideal for both parties.