HMD Global launches first Nokia smartphone
HMD Global, the Finnish company that owns the rights to use
Nokia's brand on mobile phones, announced on Sunday its first smartphone,
targeted for Chinese users with a price of 1,699 yuan ($246).The launch marks the first new smartphone carrying
the iconic handset name since 2014 when Nokia Oyj (NOKIA.HE) chose to sell its entire
handset unit to Microsoft (MSFT.O).The new device, Nokia 6, runs on Google's (GOOGL.O) Android platform and is
manufactured by Foxconn (2354.TW). It will be sold exclusively in
China through online retailer JD.com (JD.O), HMD said. HMD Global, the Finnish
company that owns the rights to use Nokia's brand on mobile phones, announced
on Sunday its first smartphone, targeted for Chinese users with a price of
1,699 yuan ($246).The
launch marks the first new smartphone carrying the iconic handset name since
2014 when Nokia Oyj (NOKIA.HE) chose to
sell its entire handset unit to Microsoft (MSFT.O).The new
device, Nokia 6, runs on Google's (GOOGL.O) Android
platform and is manufactured by Foxconn (2354.TW). It will be
sold exclusively in China through online retailer JD.com (JD.O), HMD said."The
decision by HMD to launch its first Android smartphone into China is a
reflection of the desire to meet the real world needs of consumers in different
markets around the world... it is a strategically important market," HMD
said in a statement.Nokia
was once the world's dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to
smartphones, and then chose Microsoft's Windows operating system for its
"Lumia" range.After
the 2014 deal, Microsoft continued selling cheaper basic phones under Nokia's
name and Lumia smartphones under its own name, but last year, it largely
abandoned both businesses.HMD in
December took over the Nokia feature phones business and struck a licensing
deal that gave it sole use of the Nokia brand on all 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. Nokia Oyj is currently focused on telecom network equipment
business and technology patents.HMD CEO Arto Nummela, who was once responsible for Nokia's sales
and product development, told Reuters last month that HMD aims to be one of the
key competitive players in the smartphone business where it faces tough
competition from Apple (AAPL.O), Samsung (005930.KS) and
dozens of other players. HMD launched some new Nokia basic phones last month.
It said on Sunday it was looking to launch more new products in the first half
of the year.(Reporting by Jussi Rosendahl and Eric Auchard)
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