Microsoft Cuts 1,350 Smartphone-Related Jobs in Finland

The company confirmed significant job losses in Finland, finalizing a plan that was made three months ago. At the time, Microsoft announced job cuts after it decided to reduce its smartphone output.

Microsoft has confirmed it is cutting 1,350 jobs in Finland, with the cuts coming from the company’s dwindling smartphone division.

Earlier in the year, Microsoft announced that it would streamline its mobile business. The company offloaded its feature phone division and pared down the smartphone business, with no new Lumia devices expected this year.

At the time, the company said the cutback would result in up to 1,850 job losses around the world. Microsoft said Finland would be the most impacted, with 1,350 job losses, a number the company confirmed today. However, the company is looking to relocate many positions.

Employees cut from the Finnish smartphone division were offered a job at Microsoft HQ in Redmond and various other Microsoft locations as part of negotiations.

Smartphone Retreat

Finland was always destined to be the worst hit. The country is home to Nokia, the company that sold the Lumia brand to Microsoft two years ago. The multi-billion dollar acquisition turned into a disaster for Microsoft and paid a major role in the company’s decision to cut back its smartphone output.

At the time of the announcement, Microsoft said:

“Today I want to share that we are taking the additional step of streamlining our smartphone hardware business, and we anticipate this will impact up to 1,850 jobs worldwide, up to 1,350 of which are in Finland. These changes are incredibly difficult because of the impact on good people who have contributed greatly to Microsoft.”

The company said it will stop making hardware (at least from the Lumia brand) and will focus on universal apps. Also, support for the Windows 10 Mobile platform and its OEMs will continue, while services will continue to launch cross-platform.

SourceReuters
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about Microsoft and the wider tech industry for over 10 years. With a degree in creative and professional writing, Luke looks for the interesting spin when covering AI, Windows, Xbox, and more.

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Dinu Noroc

MS is suffering aster the Nokia deal. Big stupid mistake that is affecting them up to day. Fortunately they learned their lesson and ditch the smartphone making. They are great at other hardware but the smartphone is better to be left to OEMs
Good guy MS, is offering new jobs for the 1350 ex employees.

The most exciting part is “…company […] will focus on universal apps. Also, support for the Windows 10 Mobile platform and its OEMs…”.

I think this is a bald move to cut the losses and start focusing on closing the gap.

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