NOKIA returning to mobile device markets via exclusive licence for IP and brand with HMD Global
Nokia, the "mothership" also behind Sailfish OS team Jolla Oy, have their smartphone brand held by Microsoft for a while more, but today Nokia announced a new IP and licencing agreement. New Finnish based company HMD Global is to make Nokia branded phones and tablets using Nokia patents and having Nokia member on board for ensuring quality, design and Nokia's consumer focused innovation.NOKIA mobile phones via new company in Finland
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May 16, 2016, Espoo, Finland. HMD Global is a newly founded company in Finland, and they've agreed a deal with Nokia on licensing Nokia's brand and using Nokia's intellectual properties on their upcoming mobile phones and tablets.
The current transaction between Nokia and Microsoft is due to end during H2/2016 after which Nokia mobile phone brand returns to Nokia, and is then forwarded to HMD Global - Globally and exclusively. The new company plans to invest half a billion dollars into global marketing over the next three years. Nokia branded phones gets back to the markets!
Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies, said:
"Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Nokia brand in an industry where Nokia remains a truly iconic name. Instead of Nokia returning to manufacturing mobile phones itself, HMD plans to produce mobile phones and tablets that can leverage and grow the value of the Nokia brand in global markets. Working with HMD and FIH will let us participate in one of the largest consumer electronics markets in the world while staying true to our licensing business model."
Arto Nummela, CEO-designate of HMD, said:
"We will be completely focused on creating a unified range of Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets, which we know will resonate with consumers. Branding has become a critical differentiator in mobile phones, which is why our business model is centered on the unique asset of the Nokia brand and our extensive experience in sales and marketing. We will work with world class providers in manufacturing and distribution to move quickly and deliver what customers want."
Editorial
In the meanwhile, Jolla Oy has dropped all hardware business and they are focusing on licensing their gesture based mobile operating system Sailfish OS to new device manufacturers. Will HMD Global take advantage of this Finnish based operating system remains an open question.
Sailfish OS is the most "Nokian" mobile operating system currently being developed and updated, based on MeeGo, Mer and Linux.
Jolla focuses on BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), their operating system soon to be released at least on Intex brand in India, on Mi-Phone in Africa and by the latest news also on Russian mobile phone with an operating system developed by Open Mobile Platform, another newly founded company using Sailfish OS.
This Fresh Nokia press release means news also for the Sailfish OS community. There are a lot of members familiar with MeeGo, some even still using their N9/N900 smartphones and shouting out it's still the best system ever done. Sailfish OS is based on MeeGo, not only by the design but also by the people behind the design. It was the MeeGo team jumping from the "burning platform" of Nokia and founded Jolla Oy to keep the development going on.
A lot of Sailfish OS fans are currently waiting for new devices, while Jolla Phone is "reaching the best before end date" (Introduced on November 2013) and Jolla Tablet was eventually shipped to only 3% of customers. Will they now hold their breath for a Nokia device, hoping it'll run Sailfish OS? Sure they are, but will it hit the markets soon enough? It'll be interesting to follow the upcoming news by HMD Global, and if anything related to Sailfish OS, you'll read it here.
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Cover photo: Nokia manufacturing plant in Oulu, Finland. Nokia media releases
Sources: Nokia Press Release, May 18, 2016 / http://www.hmdglobal.com/
Published: 2016-05-18 10:10 UTC
Updated: 2016-05-18 10:44 UTC
Really interesting news...
ReplyDeleteIt lets somehow dreaming about some perspectives...
Does it mean that you will investigate if jolla or nakia approach the other for making business together?
Have nice further sharing (and shout) ;-)
If Intex wait long enough with Aqua Fish it will be born into quite predatory waters. If not waited too long already...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand a Nokia device with Sailfish - that would be instant buy. Especially with more-up-to-date Android support pre-installed. That would be great device for many of us...
Seems unlikely they'll use SailfishOS. The press release specifically mentions they're using Android on their smartphones and tablets.
ReplyDeleteUnlikely - haha! ��
ReplyDeleteYes, Android is the one they will go with. But I really hope they will not lock the bootloader. The rest will be question of time... ��
Just Android support is needed then. But let's hope it will be downloadable from Jolla Harbour soon later as paid app...
HTC, Sony, Samsung and others offer the "same" (or very similar) hardware with different operating systems, typically Android or Windows Phone.
ReplyDeleteI do not see a good reason why HMD/Nokia could not offer a choice of Android OR SailFish for their new mobile phone(s). Personally, I even find it it is their moral obligation to support SailFish. Android will be extremely tough competition and HMD/Nokia might even make more money with SailFish in the long run. But, alas, short-sighted thinking is the great management paradigma these days. But, who knows, there is always hope.
I ordered a new n9, when I was too tired to wait sailfish phone.
ReplyDeleteGreat news. I want so mutch nokia phone with SFOS. It will be perfect if they do that!
ReplyDeleteBeing a nokia loyalist i m going to buy anything with NOKIA essence even INTEX
ReplyDeleteHey Simo, where are you? too long time not heared from you!
ReplyDeleteHMD will make the same stupid mistake that NOKIA did by using WINDOWS PHONE OS over MeeGo if they choose to go with ANDROID OS instead of SAILFISH OS.
ReplyDelete