Brand licensee HMD Global is now the new home of Nokia phones
In 2017 HMD Global is set to enter the global smartphone market with the next generation of Nokia phones running Android. The strategic agreement covering branding rights and intellectual property licensing with HMD Global and Nokia, originally announced on 18 May 2016, has come into force.
Nokia has confirmed that HMD has announced the completion of transactions between HMD, FIH Mobile (a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industries trading as Foxconn Technology Group), and Microsoft, which means that HMD can begin operations as the new home of Nokia phones, under an exclusive global brand license (excluding Japan) for the next ten years.
Nokia branded feature phones remain popular in many markets around the world today and HMD will continue to market them as part of an integrated portfolio, alongside a new range of smartphones and tablets to be announced later by HMD.
Under the agreement, Nokia will receive royalty payments from HMD for sales of every Nokia branded mobile phone and tablet, covering both brand and intellectual property rights. Nokia is not an investor or shareholder in HMD.
HMD Global is headed by president, Florian Seiche, former co-founder of HTC’s branded smartphone business and global director of Orange devices. Most recently he has been senior vice president at Nokia and Microsoft, responsible for the sales and marketing of mobile devices in the Europe region.
Second in command is Arto Nummela, CEO at HMD Global. Previously, he was vice president at Microsoft mobile devices sales group in Greater Asia, Middle East and Africa region. Nummela joined Nokia in 1994 and had broad range of positions from product creation, portfolio and business management to sales and marketing, globally.
Brad Rodrigues, interim president at Nokia Technologies, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown around the world for the return of the Nokia brand to smartphones. The HMD Global team has the ambition, talent and resources to bring a new generation of Nokia branded phones to market, and we wish them every success. I’m sure our millions of Nokia fans will be excited to see their new products!”
This week has also seen the return of Nokia branded phones to the Nokia website, which is operated by HMD Global.
