We are barely a week into 2012 and rumors are already resurfacing that at some point over the next 12 months Nokia will sell their smartphone unit to Microsoft. We canbot remember the first time such rumors appeared, but we do know the last time we covered this tale.

Just a couple of weeks ago Danske Bank claimed that during the first half of 2012 Nokia would do the unthinkable and sell their smartphone unit to Stephen Elop’s former employeer.