Nokia to ring back to phone market with HMD Android-powered device

LONDON: The iconic Nokia phones will make a global comeback in the first half of 2017 with HMD Global launching Android-based devices in the fiercely competitive smartphone market currently dominated by Samsung and Apple.

Earlier this year, HMD had entered into an exclusive 10-year brand licensing agreement with the Finnish telecom giant for mobile phones and tablets globally.

“HMD will bring a new generation of mobile phones to consumers, with the first smartphone products set to be launched in the first half of 2017, alongside the existing Nokia branded feature phone business,” it said in a statement.

The partnership will focus on markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middleeast, Africa, India and China from day one.

According to research firm IDC, global smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1.45 billion units this year with a year-on growth rate of 0.6 per cent, driven by strong adoption of 4G devices in markets like India.

In 2014, Us-based Micro- soft had acquired Nokia’s handset business for USD 7.2 billion. It later sold the branding rights to HMD Global and contract manufacturer Foxconn for USD 350 million.

Nokia’s non-compete clause with Microsoft (after the latter took over the company) expires in 2017. The company will ditch Microsoft’s Windows OS in favour of Google’s Android OS that has the lion’s share among smartphones.

Foxconn will manufacture the Nokia branded mobile phones and tablets.

“HMD is developing an exciting new consumer-centric product range which will focus on innovation, quality and experience, alongside the iconic Nokia mobile phone attributes of design, robustness, and reliability,” HMD said.

The HMD Global team is headed by CEO Arto Nummela and President Florian Seiche.

“Nokia has been one of the most iconic and recognisable phone brands globally for decades. The excitement of reintroducing this much-loved, well-known and trusted brand to smartphone consumers is a responsibility and an ambition that everyone at HMD shares,” Nummela said.