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Microsoft will soon have its smartphone business.
The Redmond, Wash., software giant is set to win unconditional regulatory approval from the European Union, according to Reuters, which cited people familiar with the matter.
The deal is virtually done, with Nokia shareholders having already given it their okay earlier this week. Microsoft is also set to take over Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland.
The $7.3 billion deal would nab Microsoft the phone (and now tablet) business of Nokia, while the networks business would remain independent. With Nokia, Microsoft will have its own in-house devices division to build Windows Phone and Windows 8 products.
While Windows Phone is available through multiple vendors, Nokia has really been the only partner to take the platform seriously enough to put it at the forefront of its strategy. Many of the other companies continue to rely on the much more popular Android platform.
The EU has set a December 4 deadline for the decision, according to Reuters. Other regulators have given the deal a green light, although workers in China are protesting the deal.
Microsoft declined to comment, while Nokia couldn’t be reached.
