18 May 2016, Finland :
Nokia has announced plans that will see the Nokia brand return to the mobile phone and tablet markets on a global basis.
This move will include the formation of a new company – HMD global Oy, a newly founded company based in Finland that will be headed Arto Nummela as CEO, who was a senior Nokia exec in the past and currently manages a big chunk of Microsoft’s phone divisions.
Nokia will take a seat on the board of directors of HMD and will set standards for performance and brand requirements so “that all Nokia-branded products exemplify consumer expectations of Nokia devices, including quality, design and consumer-focused innovation.”
HMD has been founded to provide a focused, independent home for a full range of Nokia-branded feature phones, smartphones and tablets. To complete its portfolio of Nokia branding rights, HMD announced today that it has conditionally agreed to acquire from Microsoft the rights to use the Nokia brand on feature phones, and certain related design rights.
So, what now? HMD promises to invest $500 million over the next three years, to support the marketing of Nokia-branded phones and tablets worldwide. The company claims that it is dedicated to deliver beautifully-designed, high-quality products, in lieu with Nokia’s mission.
