Microsoft would do well to boost its marketing funds for Windows Phone if it wants to help Nokia, analysts said. "Microsoft has virtually eliminated Windows Phone marketing funding inside the company, and that was the budget they used to fund Nokia," Enderle said. "The Windows Phone platform marketing is massively underfunded."

Were Microsoft to buy Nokia, marketing for Windows Phone would probably be slowed further due as resources are stretched, and Microsoft wouldn't be able to improve Nokia revenues soon enough to have an impact, Enderle said. "If Microsoft bought Nokia, they'd likely end up killing it more quickly."

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at or subscribe to . His email address is .

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