BARCELONA: HMD Global, the maker of Nokia-branded mobile handsets, has expanded its portfolio by launching five new phones --Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, new Nokia 6 and Nokia 1, and said that the year 2018 will be a critical year for the company's ambition to be one of the top smartphones players globally.
Florian Seiche, CEO of HMD global said that the company sold 70 million new Nokia phones in the first year of operations. "It has given us the confidence to double down in 2018 and beyond. Our long-term ambition is to be one of the top smartphones players globally...2018 will be a critical year in this journey. We will expand product portfolio, deepen presence in markets we have entered and go selectively into new markets," he said during the launch event in Barcelona, Spain.
HMD has also joined hands with Google to launch its first Android Go (Oreo) Edition smartphone, Nokia 1, which is targeted at emerging markets like India.
In India, Reliance Jio, along with a slew of domestic and Chinese handset players are planning to bring their Android Go-based ultra-affordable smartphones to the market. Micromax, for instance, is planning to launch its Android Go smartphone at around Rs 2,000.
The company has also its 4G feature phone, Nokia 8110, Nokia 7 Plus, a new Nokia 6, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco, which is HMD's most premium offering. The 4G feature phone comes with Google assistant, Google maps, Facebook and Twitter, and also features Wifi hotspot function. "As networks transition to 4G, it is our job to get people connected," Juho Sarvikas, CPO of HMD Global said.
Seiche said that feature phones have always been a key strength for Nokia. "We are no 1 globally in value, much ahead of expectations...we are among top 5 brands in 15 markets globally, for smartphones.
Florian Seiche, CEO of HMD global said that the company sold 70 million new Nokia phones in the first year of operations. "It has given us the confidence to double down in 2018 and beyond. Our long-term ambition is to be one of the top smartphones players globally...2018 will be a critical year in this journey. We will expand product portfolio, deepen presence in markets we have entered and go selectively into new markets," he said during the launch event in Barcelona, Spain.
HMD has also joined hands with Google to launch its first Android Go (Oreo) Edition smartphone, Nokia 1, which is targeted at emerging markets like India.
In India, Reliance Jio, along with a slew of domestic and Chinese handset players are planning to bring their Android Go-based ultra-affordable smartphones to the market. Micromax, for instance, is planning to launch its Android Go smartphone at around Rs 2,000.
The company has also its 4G feature phone, Nokia 8110, Nokia 7 Plus, a new Nokia 6, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco, which is HMD's most premium offering. The 4G feature phone comes with Google assistant, Google maps, Facebook and Twitter, and also features Wifi hotspot function. "As networks transition to 4G, it is our job to get people connected," Juho Sarvikas, CPO of HMD Global said.
Seiche said that feature phones have always been a key strength for Nokia. "We are no 1 globally in value, much ahead of expectations...we are among top 5 brands in 15 markets globally, for smartphones.
