[richardjordan]

I think this has been expected since the Nokia Windows Phone bet. I suspect that this is not unrelated to the Ballmer departure.

I'm not sure it does either company much good. If anything it looks to me like a panic move of two companies who while from te outside they seem huge and successful to many are actually seeing the writing on the wal and have no real plan for the future.

This won't make Microsoft competitive with Apple where it wants to be despite the hopes of Redmond.