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For some reason I like the idea of Bell Labs being in the hands of Nokia (not Microkia).

I like the idea too.

However it is worth noting that Bell Labs' hey day was a while back [1].

YC's Request for Startups makes a reference to Bell Labs, 'Bell Labs worked a long time ago but would probably not work in today’s world'. I suppose the key word is 'probably'. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, but certainly Nokia and Bell Labs have their work cut out.

[1] http://www.wired.com/2014/09/coupland-bell-labs/

That's one of the coolest parts of this deal. I hope they make the most of the incredible research at Bell Labs!

Bell labs was funded by one of the biggest monopolies ever. I find it hard to believe the new bell labs will have that kind of resources.

Sadly, Bell Labs really hasn't been the amazing R&D "idea factory" it was known as throughout the 20th century for at least 30 years or more. Alcatel-Lucent is many, many, many generations (and iterations) removed from the same R&D entity that developed the transistor, radar, lasers, communications satellites, wireless telephony, transatlantic cables, etc., etc.

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