More job cuts at Microsoft as it sheds its phone business

Just when you think there couldn’t anymore layoffs, Microsoft is restructuring further and cutting 2,850 more jobs. The company is in the middle of ridding itself of its Windows phone business and at this point they have shed almost all of its Nokia mobile phone business which they bought for US$7.2 billion back in 2014. Around 900 of the workers have already been informed of the layoff. This also comes on top of a 1,850 layoff back in May.

Instead of forcing people to use Windows phone, which the world hasn’t really taken to, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is making their technology more available on the more popular Android and iOS platforms.

Source: Recode

Intel's major restructuring effort will result in 12,000 layoffs

Intel has announced a major restructuring effort that will cost 12,000 jobs, or 11 per cent of its workforce to mid-2017. The news comes as the company's plans to "accelerate its evolution from a PC company to one that powers the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices." The chipmaker is focusing on data centres and Internet of Things (IoT) as primary growth areas expected to offset the slowing PC market.

"Intel Corporation today announced a restructuring initiative to accelerate its evolution from a PC company to one that powers the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices. Intel will intensify its focus in high-growth areas where it is positioned for long-term leadership, customer value and growth, while making the company more efficient and profitable," the company said in a statement.

Source: TechSpot.com

BlackBerry to let go of 200 jobs in Ontario and Florida

In an effort to trim costs, BlackBerry is letting go of 200 jobs in its hometown headquarters in Ontario and Florida. This new round of layoffs with affect 75 manufacturing jobs in Sunrise, Florida, according to a state government site. Meanwhile, it’s rumoured that a lot of the job cuts in Canada involve people who are working on the BB10 device software. Gary Klassen, one of the company’s longest-tenured employees and the inventor of the BBM messaging service, is also leaving the company with this latest rounded of cuts.

BlackBerry won’t divulge the percentage of its workforce that has been affected by this latest round of layoffs. The Canadian company is trying to turn its fortunes around by putting its focus in its enterprise software business. BlackBerry let go of around 200 staff members back in September. The employees who were laid off then worked on the design and hardware of BB10 devices. But a spokeswoman for BlackBerry assures its users that they will still release updates for its BB10 software.

Source: Reuters

GoPro to lay off 7% of its workforce

GoPro didn’t have a good end to 2015 and the start of 2016 isn’t shaping up to be any better for the brand. The action camera maker recently revealed that sales during the holiday quarter were “lower than anticipated” and they will be laying off seven percent of their workforce. "Over the past two years, GoPro's headcount has grown by more than 50% annually, to more than 1,500 employees at the end of 2015," the company said in a release. "To better align resources to key growth initiatives, GoPro has implemented a reduction in its workforce of approximately 7 percent."

Shares of the company have dropped from US$65 back in August to just $14 per share this week, which is $10 less of its $24 price during its public offering. And when GoPro made the announcement on Wednesday, the stock fell further to $11 per share. The company said they generated about $435 million in the fourth quarter, which was less than they expected in part because of the multiple price cuts the new Hero4 camera took (which also cost the company some $21 million). They are also expected to incur around $30 million to $35 million for excess inventory and order commitments.

Source: Mashable