If Microsoft and Nokia Divorce, Who Gets to Keep the Kids? (Hint: Kids = Phones)

Just a few months ago, Microsoft MSFT and Nokia Corporation NOK announced a harmonious union that would allow the Windows maker to help produce a new phone. While this news ruled the media for a few short days, I refused to buy into the hype. In a piece entitled, Microsoft And Nokia: Together, They Could Make The Worst Phone Ever, I wrote about the chances of a successful partnership. Truth be told, the chances weren't very good back then, and they aren't much better now. In fact, if this report from BGR (via Unwired View) proves to be true, the two corporations could be headed for divorce court. BGR cites industry insider Eldar Murtazin, who claims that Nokia is about to begin “discussing the possibility [of] selling its cell phone business to Microsoft.” According to BGR, Murtazin has a proven track record of disseminating accurate intel. While you might wonder how Nokia could function without its cell phone business, BGR notes that the company was founded in the 1800s as a paper company. This begs the question: if Nokia can move from paper to cell phones, what could the company accomplish next?