It’s time to bid adieu to
Nokia
, again. After buying it from
Microsoft
in 2014,
HMD Global
has been manufacturing and releasing new Nokia-branded
phones
for the last half a decade. But, now it is retiring the brand ‘Nokia’ as it prepares to bring new
smartphones
under its own ‘HMD’ brand.
In 2013, Microsoft acquired Nokia's Devices and Services business, while Nokia shifted its focus to Networks. But, merely a year after Microsoft quietly dropped the brand, sold it back to Nokia. Only for Nokia to sell the brand three years later. In 2016, Nokia signed a ten-year deal with
HMD
Global granting them the right for 10 years to use the 'Nokia' brand on smartphones and tablets.
HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia smartphones, launched its HMD brand in September. At the time, the company announced that it would introduce a range of HMD-branded mobile devices in addition to Nokia devices. The company also revealed that it would partner with new collaborators to launch innovative devices.
Now, the Finish company has announced that it is gearing up to offer even more, including original HMD devices. Even though the company does not explicitly say that it is getting rid of the ‘Nokia’ brand, it has dropped a video titled “We’re HMD,
Human Mobile Devices
,” teasing phones and more, including dumb phones, “newstalgic” dumb phones, earbuds and even tablets. Its X (formerly Twitter) ID has also been changed to @HMDglobal from @nokiamobiles, and so on other social media platforms.
On its official website, the Finish company writes that they are “still makers of Nokia phones,” so maybe we could get some new Nokia dumbphones in the future. The company is still selling Nokia phones, tablets, and accessories and will continue to offer support. But, for smartphones, the company might start using its
branding
, and the first one could be released soon.
Rumours are rife that the Finish company might launch its first HMD-branded smartphones at
MWC Barcelona
, which is scheduled to take place later this month. The company has also teased a new phone in Blue and pink colours.
English (US) ·