Pursuits
Elop, Ballmer Give Nokia-Microsoft Accord Hard Sell in Barcelona
This article is for subscribers only.
Nokia Oyj Chief Executive Stephen Elop tried yesterday in Barcelona to defend his decision to join forces with Microsoft Corp., a move that’s wiped 5.7 billion euros ($7.7 billion) off the company’s market value in two days.
Making a surprise appearance during a presentation by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the Mobile World Congress, Elop sought to portray the challenge of winning back ground lost by the Finnish company to Apple Inc.’s iPhone and handsets based on Google Inc.’s Android software as “a war of ecosystems.” Elop announced on Feb. 11 that Nokia would make Windows Phone 7 its primary mobile-phone platform, replacing its home-grown Symbian.