Microsoft has betrayed Finland, states Mr Anti Rinne, the Minister of Finance for Finland in the wake of Microsoft's recent announcement to dramatically reduce its workforce.

Only in April this year Microsoft acquired the well-known Finnish company Nokia, famed for its early prominence in the mobile phone hardware market as well as the anecdotal toughness of its handsets. Nokia named itself after the city, originally launching in 1865 as a pulp mill long before it ever considered telecommunications.

Last week Microsoft announced its plans to massively scale back staff numbers by 18,000 people. Later news developed that the entire Android division of Nokia would be scrapped, leaving the business to focus on its Windows Phone line.

The ramifications of this have come to light, with Microsoft/Nokia now announcing that 12,500 people and positions will be removed from the Nokia Devices and Services division.

Reacting angrily to this news Mr Rinne stated Microsoft has betrayed Finland. According to Finnish newspaper Kauppalehti, Rinne stated his land has been cheated.



"This is, of course, Nokia and Microsoft Trade," Rinne said. "But when the deal was made Microsoft announced its commitment to Finland in Finnish know-how. Now it seems that all parts of this are not met."

"Now I require data centers to come," Rinne said. "They were promised."