Microsoft Corp. is buying Nokia Corp.'s devices and services business, and getting access to the company's patents, for a total of 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion) in an effort to expand its share of the smartphone market, the companies announced late Monday.

Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion euros ($5 billion) for the Nokia unit that makes mobile phones, including its line of Lumia smartphones that run Windows Phone software.

Microsoft is also paying 1.65 billion euros ($2.2 billion) for a 10-year license to use Nokia's patents, with the option to extend it indefinitely.

"We are very excited about the proposal to bring the best mobile device efforts of Microsoft and Nokia together," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a memo to employees. "We are receiving incredible talent, technology and IP (intellectual property)."

Microsoft said it is acquiring Nokia's Asha brand of low to mid-level smartphones and will license the Nokia brand for current Nokia mobile products.

"This element provides Microsoft with the opportunity to extend its service offerings to a far wider group around the world while allowing Nokia's mobile phones to serve as an on-ramp to Windows Phone," the companies said in a joint statement.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft said it will draw from its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. When the deal closes in early 2014, about 32,000 Nokia employees will transfer to Microsoft, the companies said.

Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, said Stephen Elop will step aside as president and CEO to become executive vice president of Nokia devices and services. Chairman Risto Siilasmaa will stay in his current role and assume the duties of interim CEO.

Elop is expected to join Microsoft at the close of the transaction, along with several Nokia vice presidents.

Nokia plans to hold a news conference in Finland on Tuesday morning to discuss the deal.

【新闻快讯】

据国外媒体报道，微软将以71.7亿美元收购诺基亚设备与服务部门，加速发展Windows生态系统。

微软美国时间周一晚间宣布，将以37.9亿欧元（约合50亿美元）的价格收购诺基亚旗下的大部分手机业务，另外再用16.5亿欧元（约合21.8亿美元）的价格购买诺基亚的专利许可证，因此这项交易的总价格大约为54.4亿欧元（约合71.7亿美元）。

埃洛普将放弃CEO职位，暂时担任设备与服务部门执行副总裁；诺基亚董事长里斯托西拉斯马（Risto Siilasmaa）将担任临时CEO。

这项交易是一个明显的信号，说明微软相信它能够而且必须在手机领域取得成功，它不能将这一成功拱手让给合作伙伴，即便是将身家性命完全押在微软WP手机软件上的诺基亚也不例外。

对于诺基亚而言，虽然该公司卖掉了它最知名的业务给微软，但它将仍专注于生产蜂窝网络设备、地理位置服务Here和一些其它的先进技术。这些剩余的业务占公司2012年一半的收入。

本次收购无异于业界一大重磅消息，业内人士纷纷发表看法。有观点认为，微软收购诺基亚设备与服务业务，未必是坏事。因为“微软Windows Phone平台发展步伐拖了诺基亚的后腿，诺基亚拥有最优秀的硬件设备工业设计，两者结合将加快WP平台发展。

还有评论指出，现在手机三分天下，一方是谷歌和旗下安卓统治的市场，一方是苹果和它的系列产品，还有一方就是今天微软收购诺基亚所代表的新势力。三足鼎立将成为以后智能手机市场的大格局。