Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) News: Steve Ballmer’s Struggle, Student Recruitment & Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NOK)

Editor’s Note: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)

Microsoft CEO Ballmer to Retire Within Next 12 Months (Bloomberg)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, who has struggled to adapt to an era of declining personal-computer sales, will retire after more than a decade leading the world’s largest software maker. Ballmer, 57, plans to step down within the next 12 months, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said today in a statement. Microsoft’s lead independent director, John Thompson, will lead the search for his successor, heading a committee that will also include Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Ballmer, who took over the CEO role from Gates in 2000, has been working to bolster Microsoft’s performance in areas like mobile computing as consumers gravitate to smartphones and tablets — and away from the PCs that have long been powered by Microsoft’s flagship Windows software.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Giving Apple Inc. (AAPL) a Run for its ‘Patent Money’

Microsoft: Analyst Says Forget Fundamentals For The Next Six Months (Forbes)
You can find plenty of investors and analysts who will argue there is a lot of pent-up value in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares. They will tell you that the stock trades for a cheap multiple and pays a fat dividend, or that the market is underestimating the potential of its mobile phone platform. Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund says, for now, none of that matters.

Microsoft helps Delta Airlines say, ‘Shut up and give me your money!’ (Computer World)
Good news, self-loading freight. Next time you’re on a Delta flight, the cart-pushers will be able to take your money more easily. It’s all thanks to Windows Phone, Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) and Avanade.

South Africa Trying to Exit Slow Lane Turns to Microsoft (Bloomberg)
South Africa’s government, having failed to bring affordable Internet to the continent’s largest economy in its almost 20 years of democracy, is giving Microsoft a shot. The software maker began a trial in the northeastern province of Limpopo last month that taps unused slices of television spectrum to provide online access to remote townships. Potential partners include state-controlled Telkom SA SOC Ltd. and MWEB ISP, a unit of Africa’s biggest media company Naspers Ltd., said two people familiar with the matter, asking not to be identified because the discussions are confidential.

Microsoft explains 3D printing standards in Windows 8.1 (video) (engadget)
Whether you’re looking to print an Aston Martin or a birdhouse, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) promises you’ll be able to do it more easily with Windows 8.1. Redmond is looking to iron out the wrinkles currently associated with 3D printing — like metadata loss during exporting and limited communication between apps and printers — and make 3D printing more like 2D printing so it becomes “more seamless and ubiquitous.

Microsoft picks 8 Hyderabad grads for Rs 11L (Deccan Chronicle)
Campus placements for Engineering students in the city for this academic year has started on a positive note with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) recruiting eight students from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Gandipet, at a salary of Rs 11 lakh per annum each. This year, CBIT is the only engineering campus in the city which Microsoft has visited so far. The company is expected to visit Osmania Engineering College and JNTU-Hyderabad soon.