“Nokia smartphones are poised for a comeback after former managers at the Finnish company licensed the handset brand from Microsoft and struck up partnerships with Google and phone manufacturer Foxconn,” Eric Auchard and Jussi Rosendahl report for Reuters.
“HMD Global, led by Nokia veteran Arto Nummela, wants to launch its first Nokia smartphone in the early part of next year using Google’s Android operating system. Success will require a dash for scale by stealing business from Apple, Samsung and dozens of other players in a cut-throat industry,” Auchard and Rosendahl report. “‘Consumers may be carrying different smartphones now, but are they really in love and loyal to those brands?’ said Nummela in an interview.”
MacDailyNews Take: To Apple, yes, they most certainly are.
“HMD on Thursday took over the feature phone business that Nokia Corp sold to Microsoft. It has a licensing deal with Nokia giving it sole use of the brand on mobile phones and tablets for the next decade. It will pay Nokia royalties for the brand and patents, but Nokia has no direct investment in HMD.,” Auchard and Rosendahl report. “HMD is building its smartphone operating system in partnership with Google and all its Nokia devices will be manufactured by Foxconn of Taiwan, the world’s largest contract manufacturer.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Pfft.
Apple’s iPhone is a “niche product.” — Nokia’s then-CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, April 17, 2008
Olli-Pekka is currently “spending time with his family.”
SEE ALSO:
Apple reaps 106% of smartphone industry profits – November 21, 2016
iPhone roadkill: Nokia’s last site in Finland shuttered – July 9, 2015
Beleaguered Microsoft axes up to 7,800 employees, writes off $7.6 billion from Nokia deal – July 8, 2015
Palm CEO: ‘We don’t want to follow design fads’; Nokia CEO challenges Apple over iPhone – February 13, 2007
Is Apple building ‘The Device?’ [revisited] – January 09, 2007
Is Apple building ‘The Device?’ – December 10, 2002
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
Nokia numbskulls seem to be gluttons for market punishment. Let the dead stay dead.
Indeed. This sounds like a confounded mess.
How nice, peterFuck is back with his many usernames and his upvote/downvote hack. Go crawl back under your rock numbskull.
You must be angry about something to continually go after thoughtful intelligent posters on MDN. Is there any hope that you can leave the site and get some professional help?
You certainly offer an endearing impression, ‘Surething’. 😆 😛 Be sure to HATE on me as well.
Next thing..RIM will announce (another) “iPhone killer”… The war is over. Android is not the answer if another company wants in on this. They have to start from scratch, like Apple did….if they want a piece of that pie. Even then..look at what happened to Windows phone…
That was the most hilarious, falling-off-the-chair, stomach-hurting, tears-in-the-eyes headline I had read in a while.
Nokia to challenge Apple!!! You can’t make this
sh!tstuff up!Those that the Gods would destroy, first they make proud.
Wow!
Ingredients:
1. Resurgent “dumb phone” brand
2. Dumb former Nokia veteran
3. Android
Successful “iPhone killer”?
Answer: NO
Nokia, good luck battling for that -6% Android profit share.
Comment of the day!!
The only way to differentiate yourself in this market is with the software. Another Android handset is hardly going to differentiate this device. Maybe they could try something radical and run Windows Phone OS (laughter from the audience).
Actually, a good Windows phone has a much better chance of standing out in the market than another me-too Android phone. Apple should be more concerned about he rumored Surface phone from MS. However, software ecosystem is going to prevent any third operating system from gaining traction any time soon.
Since when did anyone ‘love’ their Nokia phone, they were useful cheap utilitarian devices but as soon as something better came along ‘fans’ dumped it in their droves and hardly with any sense of loss or regret.
The only differentiation that could make sales would be holograms. If they can master that tech then they would have a significant lead over other manufacturers. Everything else like 5G, wireless charging at a distance, enivorimental condition detection, etc. would be copied within a year or two. Holograms might take longer to copy.
And even if they can achieve hologram genies popping out of the phone screen, it would be shocking if they could master the seamless integration of phone calls, text messages, emails, notes, calendars, pictures, bookmarks, spreadsheets, documents, music, games, home automation, etc. across the phone, watch, tablet, laptop, desktop, TV, car, home, etc. like Apple does.
And even if the new Nokia invents several Android Pro computer models, secure home automation, tablets that don’t suck, watches that are worthy, etc. how will they solve the endless security problems of Android?
“Security problems of Android”???
I am guilty of “playing” with the phone sales people at stores like Costco where they have a display with salespeople. I have even done it at Walmart.
I ask them if they advise people not to use Android. At that point the salesperson says “why would I do that”. That opens the door for me to inform them about all of the security issues and normally have them enter the search info on their (typically Android) phone. If there are potential customers there, I make sure to speak loudly.
I let them know that I don’t care what they use iPhone, Windows Phone, Blackberry, heck even an old Nokia phone, just don’t use Android. Then I remind them that all of the contact info from all of their friends, relatives and business contacts they have on their phone is part of what the Android hackers are looking for. If they cared about their friends and family, they wouldn’t use Android.
Example: https://www.google.com/search?q=android+malware+99
Information capture, keystroke logging, GPS tracking, app time tracking, email/sms intercept, remote camera/video/mic enabling, photo retrieval, etc., even just plan old ransomware are all waiting for you on Android.
Over 99% of all mobile malware targets Android. Less that one percent target Apple iPhone, Windows Phone, Blackberry and all others COMBINED.
(Then again, I am the guy who goes after public restroom patrons who do not wash their hands. They are smearing fecal matter, urine or even just the crud from their junk on the doorknob/handle. I don’t want to touch his junk or its crud just to exit the restroom. Note: This is a lot of fun when a wife or friend is waiting for them!)
End soapbox
I find it unbelievable how the smartphone market remains so attractive to newcomers. It’s basically a duopoly business in a totally glutted market and mainly one company is making all the profits. What the heck is that attractive about it where it keeps bringing in new players to seek fame and fortune in such a tough business. It must be new third-world markets where consumers are completely ignorant of brands and they’ll buy anything cheap. Maybe it’s that the entry fee is so low that even if you just have a garage-based Android smartphone factory, you can play with the big boys in local markets.
When is the smartphone market going to shake out and only leave a few manufacturers to play the game? I always thought the tougher the business, smart people start looking elsewhere for an opening on the ground floor. When Steve Jobs said he was only going after a measly 1% of the smartphone market everyone laughed and said that wouldn’t be possible. Now this Neo-Nokia comes along and immediately they say they’re going to challenge Apple and Apple has the deepest pockets and hundreds of retail stores around the world and yet they’re talking a Nokia comeback. Nokia got totally gutted in the smartphone business and they were on top at the time. Again I blame Alphabet for that damn free Android OS which anyone can use to get a foothold even if it’s just an illusion.
A sphincter says………
Those of you who live up North, have to admit that Nokia makes a great snow tire though! The Nokian Hakkapeliitta. (Yes, they were the same company years ago)