Microsoft has struck a deal to buy Nokia's phone unit for $19 billion, Russian mobile blogger Eldar Murtazin is hinting on Twitter.

Specifically, Murtazin tweeted, "One small software company decided last week that they could spent 19 bln USD to buy a part of small phone vendor. Thats it."

We saw the tweet via BGR, who says the software company in question is Microsoft.

We realize the absurdity of citing that tweet, but a lot of people have been speculating about this deal, so we thought we'd bring it to your attention.

Plus, Murtazin is pretty plugged in to Nokia. He was the first to report Microsoft would partner with Nokia on a software deal.

He had been previously reporting that Microsoft was meeting with Nokia about buying its phone division.

Dunno whether I'd like that... one side says "awesome software", and the other says "look what happened to Zune HD"!

Are MS supposedly going to takeover Nokia, or just buy part of Nokia?

Nokia is still marketleader but the last quarters they are doing horrible and the last days their stock is doing horrible (fell 17% yesterday)  If MS would take over it would take over an unhealthy business not sure if that is an good idea.

Nokia (Finland) - 25%
Samsung (South Korea) - 16,1%
LG (South Korea) - 5,6%
Apple (VS) - 3,9%
RIM (Canada) - 3%

Totally agree here. Nokia's brand image is outdated - people don't think of Nokia when they think of modern phones today. Although, developing markets still want more basic phones, so Nokia should do alright there.

I think if MS were to takeover, they'd be better just using the Nokia infastructure and developing their own brand. I think profits would be maximised if they used Android - but that's not happening. Windows Mobile will be pushed......and pushed.

shows how fast times change

a giant being taken down

From what understand, Nokia have lost some marketshare due to the smartphone revolution. Nokia were slow to this, hence where Apple, and others have come in. That was the entry.

The way I see it, is if M$ used the Nokia brand name together with WP7Mango with several awesome builds it could really work for both M$ and the Nokia name. Nokia still today sell more phones than any other company in the world.

this will be another megaton for microsoft , just like skype

Microsoft better have a clear strategy with the purchases of Skype and Nokia, because if they don't I only see them bleeding money out of this. Skype has always been losing shitloads of money and Nokia is a sinking ship right now.

I can't see what they're doing with this, but obviously they have some intentions with these companies. We'll have to wait and see.

Hmmm maybe they are planning to put those two together to make something really awesome.