++ the future of Microsoft Lumia mobile phones ++

++ have found some interesting info on the downgrade of the Windows phone business on Wikipedia (Windows 10 mobile Wikipedia page) ++ so it was clear that the decision to abandon the Windows phone ship was taken as early as 2015 & this explains why the advertising/ launching video of MS Lumia 950 (XL) has the music words "the SUN goes down" ++ & so it's very possible that the CEO change in 2014 had this main strategy change at its core & was the core cause why the Windows phone enthusiast CEO was dismissed & there was a great dispute between Gates & the CEO & of course Gates imposed as always until then the Gates view/ way in the company, but later on Gates will have to leave the company & so along with Windows phone's downgrade, 2 of the key historic CEOs have experienced a place outside the MS leadership, but these former CEOs are still active in other fields.

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According to the Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016^^revenue from Phone business was $3,358 million vs. $7,702 million in 2015 and $3,073 million in 2014.

| | | | Phone product and service offerings | | | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Revenue from external customers (in millions) | 3,358 | 7,702 | 3,073 |

The year before, Microsoft disclosed^^information on sales of Phone Hardware:

| | | Phone hardware | | | 2015 | 2014 | | --- | --- | --- | | Revenue (in millions) | 7,524 | 1,982 | | Operating income (in millions) | 701 | 54 |

In addition, in the Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015 MS disclosed that the leadership decided to spend "$2.5 billion of integration and restructuring expenses, primarily costs associated with restructuring plans" which includes the cost of mass dismissal of staff.

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++ another interesting fact is that Windows phone was linked to a Formula 1 team: the Lotus F1 Team that was active until 2015 & there was an active partnership with a pilot acting as Lumia ambassador ++ the Lotus F1 team was dissolved in February 2016.

Windows will return one day..

++ Huawei has achieved a greater integration level with android, but facts are that 69 billion $ is not sensational for a gaming company, whereas approximately 10% of the sum was a huge loss for an entire mobile platform (the mobile platform had many million users & these users have used more BING & Microsoft Edge than the company's current performance with BING & MS Edge on the Android platform) ++ Microsoft choosing Android on mobile was a cultural shift: in the past it was great to have the "my way" style for a strong software company vs. what happened after 2014/2015 when the company's own way has become less important & in some areas disappeared (became invisible & that will result in an invisible legacy too).

++ a surprise update for the Daily Mail Online app is available on Windows phones & there are still ways to search with Cortana.

Their mission statement compels them to embrace Android to themselves.