Nokia Expected To Release New Smartphones In 2016
According to Re/code, Nokia will be returning to the smartphone market next year. While we still don’t have any official confirmation of this rumor, sources say it’s true. This move will signal a shift in momentum for the electronics company, which has struggled as of late.
Ever since Microsoft purchased Nokia’s handset division in 2013 for a jaw-dropping $7.2 billion, we’ve yet to see any new Nokia smartphones released. Of course, this makes sense given that the terms and conditions of the deal specifically prohibit Nokia from selling any branded smartphones until 2016. Microsoft was — and in some ways still is — actively working to increase its share of the mobile market. Granted, the mobile Windows OS hasn’t fared well when compared to Google’s Android OS or Apple’s IOS, but Microsoft continued to push its products and services for mobile users.
Nokia’s last attempt to produce smartphones was nothing short of a failure. The Windows-based Lumia line of handsets saw few sales, which should come as no surprise given its use of the Windows OS. But there were some positive notes attributed to the Lumia, including its camera. One of the top Lumia handsets boasted a massive 20-megapixel primary camera, allowing for some truly exceptional photo opportunities. Unfortunately for Nokia, though, this wasn’t enough to keep the handsets on the market, as sales continued to slide.
So, what does Nokia plan to do differently this time around?
It’s still too early to make any definitive statements regarding the company’s plan of attack, but Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri said it would likely be licensing its brand to other third-parties. Nokia holds around 10,000 or so patents related to mobile technology, making it a major player in this field. If another handset maker wants to use a technology that’s already patented by Nokia, it would have to purchase licensing rights.
Zdnet reports that Nokia may also be preparing to launch an Android smartphone in 2016. Windows was pretty much a massive failure for Nokia smartphones, so perhaps the company should try Google’s Android OS. Android remains the dominant mobile OS, capturing a greater portion of the market than Windows and iOS. Assuming Nokia chooses this route, it would likely use its own signature skin/theme on top of the vanilla Android OS.
Are you a fan of Nokia? Let us know in the comments section below!
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I would like to see those Nokia Android phones
Finally have a reason to buy an Android phone
I’am really glad Nokia is coming back. Just hope it can keep up the pace.