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Microsoft cuts 'dozens' more employees with its mobile unit: Report

Microsoft is continuing to cut employees connected with its mobile-phone business with a new round of cuts hitting employees in Finland, according to a new report.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Microsoft is laying off "dozens" more employees associated with its mobile business, according to a February 10 report from the Finnish newspaper Helsigin Sanomat.

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The cuts are happening in Finland and heavily targeting those involved in marketing, the report says. (Thanks to @teroalhonen for the HS link.)

Microsoft Mobile Oy is the name of Espoo, Finland-based Microsoft's mobile subsidiary, created following Microsoft's purchase of Nokia's handset business.

Last year, Microsoft acknowledged it was cutting 2,300 jobs in Finland, and shuttering the Salo Lumia manufacturing unit. Before those cuts, there were 3,200 Microsoft employees in Finland.

The cuts in Finland were part of Microsoft's elimination of 7,800 jobs across the company, a move announced last July.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to me today that any job cuts happening now are not part of that original 7,800, the majority of which were focused on those involved in the phone business.

"The job reductions were spread across more than one business area and country and reflect adaptations to business needs. We go through this process in the most thoughtful manner possible, with the deepest respect for affected individuals," said the spokesperson when I asked about today's layoff reports.

Microsoft sold only 4.5 million Lumia phones during its most recent fiscal quarter. Company officials told Wall Street analysts to expect the decline in handset sales to continue in the next quarter, as Microsoft is following through on its previously announced strategy to cut back on the number of phones it makes to focus on a few key categories.

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