Nokia is gone, again!
Let’s have a look with what happened with this once-present-in-every-household-brand.
Bye Bye Nokia, Again
After buying Nokia from Microsoft in 2016, HMD Global has been manufacturing and releasing new Nokia-branded phones ever since. But now it seems that it is done with the “Nokia” since it has decided to discontinue the brand and is going to launch the smartphones under its own “HMD” brand in future.
It was in 2013 when Nokia’s Devices and Services business was acquired by Microsoft, after Nokia shifting its focus to Networks.
Just after buying the brand, Microsoft quietly dropped the brand and sold it back to Nokia. Nokia brought the brand back, only to sell it after 3 years to HMD Global on 18th May 2016 in a ten-year deal which granted them the right to use the ‘Nokia’ brand on smartphones and tablets for 10 years.
It was in September that HMD Global started it brand HMD. It was during that time that the company decided that it shall launch its range of HMD-branded mobile devices in addition to Nokia devices. In addition to this, it also said that it shall collaborate with new partners to launch innovative devices.
First “HMD” branded smartphones Speculated to be launched this year
In its recent announcement, the company has announced that it is gearing up to launch original HMD devices. Though the company did not explicitly mention about dropping the brand, it has dropped a video titled “We’re HMD, Human Mobile Devices,” teasing phones and more. This also included dumb phones, “newstalgic” dumb phones, earbuds and even tablets. Notably, it changed its X (formerly Twitter) ID from @nokiamobiles to @HMDglobal, this has been done on another social media platforms as well.
The company, in its official website, writes that they are “still makers of Nokia phones,”, which could potentially mean that it could still be making new Nokia dumbphones in the future.
The company is still selling Nokia phones, tablets, and accessories and will continue to offer support. However, when it comes to new smartphones, the company might start using “HMD” branding only and the first batch of phones shall be released soon.
It is speculated that it shall be at MWC Barcelona, next month that the company decides to launch its first HMD-branded smartphone. The company has also teased a new phone in blue and pink colors.
