Americans already thought Nokia was a Microsoft company

Many Americans, likely most of them, will wake up today and wonder why there is so much news about Microsoft's Nokia purchase because they remember Nokia as the free phone with Snake on it that they picked up many years ago. They thought Nokia was already gone.

Nokia never made an impact in the US with Symbian and is just now gaining some market share in the US with Lumia Windows Phone devices.

If you check out Twitter today you will see many passionate Nokia fans who are very upset with the news. I was a Nokia fan for years and ran the Nokia Experts site, where I experienced the passion for Nokia first hand. I also gained an understanding that very few in the US cared at all about Nokia's Symbian offerings, which is one major reason I decided to stop writing for that site.

Nokia fans are blaming Mr. Elop and Microsoft for killing off the Nokia they love, but the problems with Nokia started before either of these came into the picture. Apple changed the smartphone world in 2007 and only Google was able to respond quickly enough to match the iOS experience. Nokia had the technology and ability to continue to lead the smartphone world, but focused on imaging while also enabling their Symbian followers.

Nokia is now showing some success with Windows Phone and their Lumia lineup, which I personally really enjoy using. Younger Americans only know Nokia for their Lumia line and many already think Nokia is a Microsoft company with only Windows Phone devices. Asha phones are not sold in the US and have no relevance here.

Nokia is now officially a Microsoft company -- actually, the purchase still has to be approved and get through months of discussions -- and most Americans today will go about their business with their iPhone or Android device wondering why there is such furor on Twitter.

Global coverage: Nokia Interim CEO: Microsoft deal makes us stronger | Even with Nokia devices, Microsoft wants to license Windows Phone to other makers | Does its Nokia buy thwart or fuel a possible Microsoft break-up? | Microsoft shows how to flush decades of Nokia goodwill away | Microsoft gets less than $10 per Windows Phone unit | Microsoft-Nokia deal: Reaction from the Twitter trenches | Elop drops Nokia CEO role to lead devices team under Microsoft deal | Microsoft-Nokia deal: 11 quick facts | Microsoft to buy Nokia's devices, services unit for $7.2B