Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's Device and Services business has, as expected, been made official today, with former CEO and current executive VP of the sold group calling on the Finnish giant to embrace the change.

Taking to Nokia's Conversion's blog to detail the acquisition, Elop said that the first day is an "exciting day as we join the Microsoft family and take the first, yet important, step in our long-term journey."

"Your support has created strong momentum for Nokia Lumia smartphones and they continue to grow in popularity around the world. Last year alone, the awards, accolades and fan-generated rave reviews offered proof of the growing number of champions for our phones and tablets."

Together as one

In the piece, Elop talks of strengthening Nokia's position, fighting against chatter that the American firm plans to drop the Nokia brand.

"As Microsoft and Nokia Devices and Services come together as an expanded family, we will unify our passion, dedication and commitment to bringing you the best of what our joint technologies have to offer," he added.

"Together, we can connect and empower people with one experience for everything in their life in a world where it is mobile first and cloud first.

"From today onwards, the possibilities are endless. As now, we're one."

Reshuffle

Nokia claims that the total transaction price is "slightly higher than the earlier-announced transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion", though no final figure was given.

"Today we welcome the Nokia Devices and Services business to our family. The mobile capabilities and assets they bring will advance our transformation," added Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

"Together with our partners, we remain focused on delivering innovation more rapidly in our mobile-first, cloud-first world."

Elop will now serve as executive VP of Microsoft's newly reshuffled Devices Group, which handles Lumia smartphones and tablets, Nokia's other range of mobile phones, Xbox hardware, Surface, Perceptive Pixel (PPI) products, and accessories.