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The acquisition isn't the result of a Mayer-esque spaghetti-against-the wall buying spree. Withings doesn't represent an existential threat to Nokia, so it's not something they'd like to watch whither on the vine. And it's not a robo-dog pet project of the week. Acquisitions are justifiably met with trepidation in general, but this doesn't seem bad.

I guess I just don't really understand the letter you'd have him write instead.

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I wouldn't portray the uncertainty customers face with such a jovial note. Acquisitions are notorious for shutting down service and products that customers depend on. There's nothing he says that would lead me to think that this is any different from thousands of other companies that have said the exact same kind of thing and ended up shutting down their service quickly after. I worked at a startup that was acquired and did this. In this context, there is nothing you can trust about a "Good news everyone..." acquisition letter from a CEO.

> Acquisitions are notorious for shutting down service and products that customers depend on.

Yes, this can happen. But it doesn't hurt to consider a particular event in context, instead of writing off every acquisition and blindly condemning everyone involved.

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