Microsoft may not be dropping their ties with Nokia, but Nokia's dropping their ties with them.  Nokia just announced Android based phones.

Are you telling us that Xb one price in Aussie is >$800? Because that's the only way Aussie is getting shafted worse than UK on price. Even here in NZ Xb one is $749, which in NZ dollar terms is $110 less than the pre-price cut UK price. Post, price cut it's a lot closer to the NZ price, but still above.

Having said that PS4 in the UK is also ridiculously over priced at GBP379 compared to NZ. PS4 in NZ is $649 and converting UK price to NZD = $759. That's outrageous! But the differential with Xb one is the same, so I'm guessing there must be import duties or tariffs that are inflating the UK price.

And of course Brazil is getting shafted the most on console prices.

As to the "desperation" of the price cut. I think if MS sees a substantial and sustained lift from this price cut then all countries will get a similiar cut either before or at E3. And regardless of what PR might say MS would not be dropping the price if Xb one was meeting or exceeding internal sales KPIs. And the fact that week on week they are seeing >2:1 ratio in favour of PS4 in the UK and a current LTD ratio of 1.5:1 in favour of PS4 must be a concern. In terms of reversals of fortune compared to 360 vs. PS3 the UK has been the biggest turnaround. If there's a market where MS needs to do something desperate it's the UK. USA is OK for now. And giving away TF isn't like giving away a first party game. MS has been acting in desperation in terms of game giveaways since launch. Fist giving away Fifa14 and now moving to TF (Both EA games I note, MS must be paying EA a lot of money to compensate for the loss in revenue for it's most popular game franchise in Europe, and hopefully for MS one of EA's most popular new IPs of the 8th gen). Giving away Fifa 14 (and now TF) would be like Sony giving away Yakuza or one of the PS exclusive Tales games at launch in Japan. Giving away a 3rd party exclusive game at the launch of that 3rd party game is an act of desperation no matter what console you're talking about. Game give aways are meant to be how first party titles are used to increase HW sales.

Milo says hallo :)

Point? Lumia will continue to be their biggest sellers

I have a Lumia 520 and love it :)

Yes it is, you don't cut the price months after you release a product, if your not desperate

What 5% of the consoles that will be sold this generation have been sold.  Plenty of time to make it all up.

The gamers that buy first have a huge impact on future sold consoles. This is the main reason the 360 had so much success vs the PS3.

MS does not have 'ties' with Nokia, they OUTRIGHT OWN all of Nokia cellphone business.  Nokia releasing an Android phone is MS releasing an Android phone.

The remaining independent Nokia company does not produce any cellphones, all they do is cellular network gear, maps, and IP licencing.

MS makes MUCH more money from Android phone licencing anyways, so releasing one themselves is hardly a big change.

By offering their own 'add ons' to Android that promote compatability with WIndows Phone ecosystem, maybe they can draw more customers to WP.

People do not understand this but MS owns a ton of royalties to do with Android but they obviously would rather sell a Windows Phone.

It is certainly debatable given the recent sales, not that the WiiU is any different, or Sony's condition overall, either. So all 3 should be humble.