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Nokia employees mourn the 'death' of their beloved company

Nokia employees mourn the 'death' of their beloved company

By NDTV Correspondent | Updated: 28 April 2014 20:10 IST

Nokia announced on Friday that Microsoft has completed the acquisition of its Devices & Services business. The deal, which was announced in September last year, means Nokia's mobile business has become a Microsoft subsidiary called Microsoft Mobile, while Nokia is left with its telecom equipment (NSN), location (HERE), and patent development businesses.

(Also see: Nokia's phone business to be renamed Microsoft Mobile, but the 'brand' will live on)

The change from Nokia to Microsoft Mobile means that for many employees, Friday is their last day as "Nokia". While for many, this will not mean much, many other people who worked for Nokia have taken to the Internet, to share a sense of unhappiness over change, and the "death" of Nokia.

In a long blogpost, John Kneeland, Product Manager - Developer Platform, Nokia, describes the last lunch that the Nokia employees had together and outlines the change they're facing.

Kneeland writes:

On April 25, that Nokia ceases to exist, and in its place are two companies that officially have nothing to do with each other: Microsoft Mobile Oy (where the heart of the company will go) and Nokia Oyj (where I will be).
Tomorrow I will still be an employee of Nokia. I will go to my office in Sunnyvale. It will be the same building it was yesterday. It will still say NOKIA on its facade basking in the California sun. But half of the people I've worked with will be gone. Up through today we shared everything. Tomorrow we will share nothing but our memories.

A lot of other employees were also feeling sentimental about the change they're facing. This one, by Director of Music and Media Experiences, Mark Wheatley, sums up the general feeling.

1 hour to go before I become a Microsoftie. Farewell Nokia *sniff sniff* pic.twitter.com/Y4mxxDX88e
-- Mark Wheatley (@grumpymandj) April 25, 2014

Here's another one, by Vile-Pekka Kivimaki, who works in product development for Nokia.

Last day, here we go. #Nokia http://t.co/FQ6nLaSU21
-- Veli-Pekka Kivimäki (@vpkivimaki) April 25, 2014

This instagram picture, posted by Wayne Spillett, Community Manager at Nokia also captures the same feeling.

A few people at least were more optimistic, such as Nokia comms manager Chris Hollis.

Last day as a Nokian. Excited to join MSFT, but definitely sad too RT @nokia: Nokia tune: More than just a ringtone http://t.co/p2uFAqf5h1
-- Chris Hollis (@chollis) April 25, 2014

Highlighting some of Nokia's ideas, such as the support for 3D-printed back covers, and the developer initiative DVLUP, Kneeland's post is deeply emotional and celebratory of some of Nokia's big successes. Describing working for Nokia as "a wondrous, life-changing experience," he writes that the "Nokia that we knew ends today, but its [sic] impact on the industry and the world will last for years to come."

What are your favourite memories of Nokia? Let us know via the comments.

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