UNDER a new owner, Finnish phone brand Nokia announced a “focused on Android” strategy in developing more smartphones in the future.
Speaking to Cebu-based reporters yesterday, HMD Philippines country manager Shannon Mead introduced Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6, and Nokia 8-- all running on the world’s most popular operating system.
“I don’t believe it’s too late (for Nokia to be using Android),” Mead told the press, noting the huge global demand for smartphones and where Nokia, as a brand, has the most advantage, especially when it comes to durability.
As a household name in the early 2000s, Mead said HMD relies on Nokia’s strong emotional connection to consumers, having been the global leader in the cellphone market or “everybody’s phone” back in the day.
A former Microsoft executive, Mead joined HMD after the latter purchased Microsoft Mobile in December 2016.
Microsoft bought Nokia (the company) in 2014. But Nokia phones that ran on Windows, or the Windows Phone, did not prove to be a success.
With renewed confidence in the Nokia brand, HMD in the Philippines has actively sought out cellphone dealers and retailers to serve as distribution channels for the Nokia Android series. At the same time, the company, which redesigned the Nokia 3310, continuously sees record sales on feature phones in the country, said Mead.
In Cebu, the executive said he had talks with local cellphone shops like Junrex and Aerophone for the distribution of Nokia Android smartphones in their respective outlets.
Before partnering with PLDT and Globe for postpaid plans, Mead said they want to focus first on expanding the retail or prepaid network since 70 percent of cellphone sales happen in this segment.
Millenials, he added, will be Nokia’s focus market for their newest phones. “We want to be relevant to millenials. That’s our ambition,” Mead told reporters.
“The way you talk to consumers had changed 10 years ago. When we were number one, we weren’t even selling and people were buying. Now, we have to engage with our consumers in multiple platforms,” he added.
As the Nokia brand braves the fiercely competitive smartphone industy, Mead said HMD can start with even serving a small percentage of the global demand.
According to IDC in its September 2017 report published in its website, the worldwide smartphone market will reach 1.5 billion units shipped this year, up 1.7 percent from the 1.47 billion units shipped in 2016.
On Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, Nokia will hold a bazaar at the SM City Cebu with Nokia Android phones on display and up for sale, in time for HMD’s first anniversary as a company.