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Nokia: Finland mourns the demise of its proud tech heritage Nokia: Finland mourns the demise of its proud tech heritage
(14 days later)
So, it finally happened.So, it finally happened.
That was more or less my first reaction to the news of Microsoft buying Nokia's handset business as I read it on Twitter during my morning commute. It's an outcome many have feared, some have expected and that no one was really able to prepare for. That was more or less my first reaction to the news of Microsoft buying Nokia's handset business as I read it on Twitter during my morning commute. It's an outcome many have feared, some have expected and that no one was really able to prepare for. 
I was surprised to find myself also relieved – Nokia would no longer be kept a prisoner of its past, having to explain to Finland on a quarterly basis why it is losing the game in the handset business. The company has enjoyed such success in the past that the general public has not given up hope that Nokia would regain its spot as the No 1 phone manufacturer. That Finnish distortion field has now dissolved.I was surprised to find myself also relieved – Nokia would no longer be kept a prisoner of its past, having to explain to Finland on a quarterly basis why it is losing the game in the handset business. The company has enjoyed such success in the past that the general public has not given up hope that Nokia would regain its spot as the No 1 phone manufacturer. That Finnish distortion field has now dissolved.
It's hard to try and form an honest opinion on today's news. Nokia has surprised Finns in the recent years with multiple rounds of layoffs, a partnership with Redmond and now this sale of its its best-known business to the controversial giant Microsoft.It's hard to try and form an honest opinion on today's news. Nokia has surprised Finns in the recent years with multiple rounds of layoffs, a partnership with Redmond and now this sale of its its best-known business to the controversial giant Microsoft.
Entrepreneurs live with constant change, and thus are usually able to see the opportunities in situations like this – perhaps more so than the public at large.Entrepreneurs live with constant change, and thus are usually able to see the opportunities in situations like this – perhaps more so than the public at large.
Nokia, however, is such an integral part of Finnish society that it keeps on bringing out new sides to people, even those close to me. It's a subject everyone has an opinion on, possibly more than our national politics.Nokia, however, is such an integral part of Finnish society that it keeps on bringing out new sides to people, even those close to me. It's a subject everyone has an opinion on, possibly more than our national politics.
It does have to be acknowledged, however, that Nokia and its staff have played a key role in supporting Finland on several levels. Much of our mobile industry owes its success to the presence of Nokia and its willingness to source services and applications from local companies. This has generated a huge pool of talent that continue to bear fruit for the Finnish technology space.It does have to be acknowledged, however, that Nokia and its staff have played a key role in supporting Finland on several levels. Much of our mobile industry owes its success to the presence of Nokia and its willingness to source services and applications from local companies. This has generated a huge pool of talent that continue to bear fruit for the Finnish technology space.
Nokia has also supported recently successful entrepreneurs, those who leave the firm to start their own companies with enough money to set up for the first 12 to 18 months. It has been said more than once that Nokia's severance packages make it the largest early stage investor in Finland.Nokia has also supported recently successful entrepreneurs, those who leave the firm to start their own companies with enough money to set up for the first 12 to 18 months. It has been said more than once that Nokia's severance packages make it the largest early stage investor in Finland.
While Finns are beginning to overcome cultural taboos around failure – and, in the case of some startups, celebrate failure with champagne – it would be madness to celebrate failure of this magnitude. It's a sad day to have to acknowledge that the once so mighty Nokia and its widespread handset business is no more. While Finns are beginning to overcome cultural taboos around failure – and, in the case of some startups, celebrate failure with champagne – it would be madness to celebrate failure of this magnitude. It's a sad day to have to acknowledge that the once so mighty Nokia and its widespread handset business is no more. 
After the emotional rollercoaster on comments on Twitter and Facebook when the news broke, discussion and analysis became more rational; the consensus now is on the future, and what Nokia will do with the fresh cash in its coffers.After the emotional rollercoaster on comments on Twitter and Facebook when the news broke, discussion and analysis became more rational; the consensus now is on the future, and what Nokia will do with the fresh cash in its coffers.
Working in the technology field, I do believe this is perhaps the best way to reboot the company for the future, and I'm personally optimistic that the legacy and burden of its previous success is now gone and Nokia is able to start fresh and light.Working in the technology field, I do believe this is perhaps the best way to reboot the company for the future, and I'm personally optimistic that the legacy and burden of its previous success is now gone and Nokia is able to start fresh and light.
Perhaps a status update I saw earlier today sums up the prevailing general view quite well: "Nokia's catastrophe may be a good opportunity for Finland – we're a nation that tends to get stronger the heavier we're kicked between the legs."Perhaps a status update I saw earlier today sums up the prevailing general view quite well: "Nokia's catastrophe may be a good opportunity for Finland – we're a nation that tends to get stronger the heavier we're kicked between the legs."
Antti Vilpponen is the general manager of cloud hosting company UpCloud. He has followed the Nordic and Baltic entrepreneurship scene closely through his previous job as chief executive and founder of ArcticStartup, a media company profiling startups and technology companies in the regionAntti Vilpponen is the general manager of cloud hosting company UpCloud. He has followed the Nordic and Baltic entrepreneurship scene closely through his previous job as chief executive and founder of ArcticStartup, a media company profiling startups and technology companies in the region
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