Nokia Phone Maker HMD is Launching Its Own Smartphone Brand (theverge.com) 18
HMD Global, the Finnish company best known for producing Nokia-branded smartphones, has revealed plans to launch its own line of mobile devices. From a report: On Monday, HMD Global CEO Jean-Francois Baril announced on Linkedin that the company will be expanding its portfolio with a new HMD brand that will co-exist alongside its Nokia phones and collaborations with "exciting new partners" that have yet to be disclosed. "It has been a great journey as 'HMD -- the home of Nokia phones' -- an exclusive position we have held for the past six years," said Baril. "Now we are ready for the next step on our journey -- to enter the market independently as a force to create a new world for telecommunications focused on consumer needs."
A spin off? (Score:2)
Re:A spin off? (Score:5, Informative)
The Nokia-branded phones seem to be quite successful:
"According to data released by IDC, Nokia phones are back in the top 5 smartphone companies in 23 markets in Q2 2022."
I would suspect that it's actually because the Nokia-branded phones have been a success, that they are doing this, looking to replicate that success with other partners. It will be interesting to see who the new partners are, and which segment of the market they target with the new partnerships, maybe they'll want to avoid the segment that the Nokia phones are already doing well in, no point competing with yourself.
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Or they're preparing for the expiry of their license to the Nokia brand.
It gives them a future if they don't get to keep the Nokia name, and also some leverage if they're going to negotiate an extension to that license.
Timing (Score:1)
But, hey, I generally like competition. They're welcome to have a go at it.
Re: (Score:2)
Zero. Because current Nokia phones already run on Android One. There would be nothing new about it.
Questions (Score:2)
Smart or feature phone?
If smart, what OS? We need an alternative to Linux.
If Linux, will it be deGoogled?
Will they be as rugged as Nokias?
Re: (Score:2)
Will it come with un removable software that I don't want to use?
What about built-in FaceBook/Meta snooping services?
FYI: It comes with ALL Samsung phones and tablets.
All sorts of possibilites *mebbe* (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Hard to believe this is anything other than another Android phone. Although Nokia hardware has always been top notch.
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It would be hilarious if they used Sailfish. That started out as a Nokia OS.
I understand Stephen Elop is available (Score:4, Funny)
He seemed to be great at these 'new direction' announcements while at Nokia.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
I remember the sentiment at Nokia before Elop's infamous speech.
Most employees assumed that the future was Window Phone + Android, and the other platforms would be phased out.
Instead, it was Windows only, and he announced that to the world, and instantly killed the existing phone business.
After the "burning platform" speech (Elop set the fire btw),
he internally emphasized that there would be no Android or other Linux platform development.
Then, we worked on several Linux and Android phone device projects ins
Re: (Score:2)
I mean he wasn't entirely wrong - Nokia needed a strategy. The one he chose was a suicide pact with Microsoft. It is interesting thinking of what could have been, though.
Re: (Score:2)
Nokia was nearly dead by that point anyway. The previous CEO had left in disgrace, market share was already sinking fast. All that was left was a feature phone business that hadn't yet been entirely destroyed by cheap Android.
Even if Nokia had survived, along the lines of LG- so what? The world would have one more second-tier manufacturer of Android phones.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
Most employees assumed that the future was Window Phone + Android
Why? Nokia didn't need anyone else's platform, they had MeeGo. It was almost ready -- in fact the N9 came out before the first Lumia. Elop only forced the move to WP because he was a Microsoft trojan.