From wellies to TVs to mobiles to mapping, still surviving after a century and a half!
Nokia has today marked its 150th anniversary with employee celebrations around the world, reflecting the history of a company that has survived a century and a half through many different changes in its business focus, from wellington boots to mobile phones.
From Espoo to Beijing, Bangalore to Buenos Aires, employees have gathered to toast a company which began as a pulp mill in south western Finland in the 19th century, rose to global prominence thanks to its prescience and prowess in mobility, struggled for a few years recently, but that has now has set its sights on the possibilities of a connected world. The company pointed to its recent announcement of its intention to buy Alcatel-Lucent for Euro 15.6 billion (£11.2 billion) as the next step on its evolution.
“Today is a moment for all Nokia employees, and indeed all people who have been touched by Nokia over the years, to celebrate a truly significant milestone in the company’s history,” Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri said.
“Our history is one of change: from paper to cables, rubber boots to TVs, and mobile phones to the Nokia of today. For 150 years we have embraced such change, emerging stronger as a result, and our recent Alcatel-Lucent announcement marks another such pivotal moment. We are moving forward with conviction, confidence and humility, fully focused on realising the potential of an increasingly connected world,” Suri noted.
On 15 April this year Nokia announced it intended to combine with Alcatel-Lucent to create a leader in next generation technology and services for an IP connected world. Planning for this transaction is already underway, and the company continues to expect it to close in the first half of 2016.
The proposed transaction is subject to approval by Nokia’s shareholders, completion of relevant works council consultations, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
As a prominent brand in the mobility industry, Nokia has started the debate about what this connected world will mean with #maketechhuman, a conversation about technology, its role in society, and whether it truly serves humanity. The goal is to identify opportunities and challenges created by technology, and then shape the future in a positive direction through conversation, awareness, and content.
The Nokia of today is the result of two major transformations carried out in recent years: the purchase of Siemens’ share of what was then Nokia Siemens Networks in 2013, followed by the sale in 2014 of substantially all of the Devices & Services business to Microsoft.
What has emerged is a recovering global technology company with three good businesses, each a leader in its respective field. Nokia Networks holds leading positions in most segments where it competes, including 4G; HERE is a strong player in mapping services for the automotive industry; and Nokia Technologies continues to build and license one of the strongest and broadest patent portfolios.
