Nokia today said it plans to return to the smartphone business during the first half of 2017 through its partnership with HMD Global.
HMD Global recently completed a series of transactions between HMD, FIH Mobile Limited, and Microsoft that will allow it to make phones bearing the Nokia brand. The partnership between HMD and Nokia was first announced in May.
HMD Global is a Finland-based business and will design smartphones that will then be manufactured exclusively by Foxconn. Foxconn is one of the world’s largest device makers and manufactures the iPhone for Apple. HMD Global will pay Nokia licensing and royalty fees for smartphone and tablet sales.
HMD Global boasts experienced Nokia veterans among its leadership team, but Nokia itself has no investment nor ownership stake in HMD. HMD Global and Nokia are relying on the know-how of the former Nokia execs at HMD’s helm and the strength of the Nokia brand to return to the market.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown around the world for the return of the Nokia brand to smartphones,” said Brad Rodrigues, interim president of Nokia Technologies.
Nokia sold its smartphone business to Microsoft in 2014, which was then wholly based in Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. Moving forward, Nokia-branded handsets will run Google’s Android platform.
