Will Nokia Thrive or Die in 2013?

In the video Motley Fool senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker looks at what lies ahead for Nokia in 2013. He pulls out a few data points that any Nokia investor should keep in mind at all times.

Last year wasn't a great one for the Finnish phone maker. Sales of Symbian smartphones dropped drastically, from 93 million units in 2011 to 26 million. Moving to Windows Phone has been little consolation, since the company sold only 11 million Windows Phones, taking total smartphone sales to just 37 million.

On the other hand, Microsoft , with its $66 billion cash pile, will provide a solid boost for Nokia in 2013 and won't hesitate to spend money on promotions to make Windows Phone relevant. That's how Samsung has become such a success. Samsung not only has a large ad budget, but a sales promotion budget four times of that of Apple

Finally, Eric ends the video with a word of caution for Nokia investors. Many companies in similar situations to Nokia either ended up being acquired or went bankrupt. Though Nokia has Microsoft to back it up, investors need to be alert.

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The article Will Nokia Thrive or Die in 2013? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Eric Bleeker has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Microsoft. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Apple and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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