Microsoft recently held "advanced talks" with Nokia about buying its handset business, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. The discussions faltered over price and worries about Nokia's slumping market position, among other issues, the report said. One source said talks took place as recently as this month but aren't likely to be revived. A Nokia spokeswoman said the companies meet regularly but declined to comment further.
According to the report, Nokia also last year considered a potential spin-off of Navteq. CEO Stephen Elop shot down the idea because he believed mapping was an important part of Nokia's product offerings. The paper's sources also said Nokia has been exploring a buy-out of Siemens in the Nokia Siemens Networks joint venture.
