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Home / News / It’s really happening: Nokia will make smartphones again

It’s really happening: Nokia will make smartphones again

After loads of rumours and teases, the old favourite is back

Nearly all of us reading this can likely claim a Nokia phone in our past, more likely well in the past rather than in recent years, so get ready to have your nostalgia bone tickled a bit: Nokia is about to make phones again.

Nokia sold its hardware division to Microsoft in late 2013, with the deal closing in April 2014 – and just two years later, that move has resulted in the end of the Nokia brand used for Microsoft’s phones, and the slow, sad decline of the Windows Phone platform.

Nokia remained its own company, however, and now its non-compete clauses with Microsoft have expired. After teasing a return last year, the company announced yesterday that it has partnered with a new company called HMD to develop “a full range of Nokia-branded feature phones, smartphones, and tablets.”

HMD has also agreed to obtain Nokia branding rights from Microsoft to help aid in that goal. Also yesterday, Microsoft sold its feature phone business to Taiwan device manufacturer Foxconn for US$350 million (£240 million), which means Microsoft has more or less washed its hands of the entire Nokia hardware acquisition.

Nokia

It’s worth noting that the great Nokia N1 tablet (seen above), which runs Android and looks like a close relative of the iPad Mini, was made in partnership with Foxconn – so that could be a very good indication of what to expect from a Nokia return. HMD has already confirmed that the new Nokia smartphones and tablets will run Android.

What a strange outcome this is: Nokia sold its withering phone business to Microsoft, which essentially buried it, and now Nokia is starting fresh with new partners and a shift to Android devices. We can’t wait to see what comes of it.

[Source: Nokia via The Verge]

Profile image of Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward Freelance Writer

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.

Areas of expertise

Video games, gadgets, apps, smart home