In the hours after Microsoft's announcement that it would be acquiring Nokia's devices and services business, Twitter has seen an outpouring of reactions from those affected by the merger. No one has more at stake than Nokia's employees; while Microsoft is committing to keep the base of its phone operations in Finland, it's also said it plans to cut $600 million annually in costs within the first 18 months after the merger. Needless to say, tensions are running high.

North American head of operator ecosystem Marc Kleinmaier's tweet underscores the uncertainty in the air while John Kneeland, a developer project manager at Nokia, points out what an emotional time it is for everyone at the company.

Pino Bonetti, a senior marketing communications manager at Here, and Damian Dinning, former head of Nokia's imaging unit, are in the same boat:

A lot of people were quick to point out the relative scale of the Nokia acquisition compared to other prominent deals in recent memory. Comparisons to Google's Motorola acquisition abound, but former Nokia Academy manager Dave Trevaskus really put Nokia's decline over the past five years in perspective:

One common theme on social media revolves around Stephen Elop's motives for joining Nokia as CEO in the first place. Rumors of Microsoft's intent to buy the Finnish company's handset business date back as far as 2011, and while they may have been premature (and earned a quick dismissal from Nokia at the time), they've ultimately proved to be on point.

Many with former ties to the company, like ex-marketing manager Alexander Oswald, are upset with the company's fortunes.

Former marketing technologies manager Russell Beattie echoes similar feelings.

While former VP Juha-Pekka Sipponen believes acquiring Nokia wasn't Microsoft's primary goal.

But if there's one overarching sentiment other than melancholy and suspicion, it's pride in what Nokia has stood for over the years. Even though there will never be another smartphone bearing the name, for years Nokia singlehandedly defined the cutting edge in mobile technology. Former head of social media for North America, Phil Schwarzmann puts it best.