Nokia Searching New Manufacturing Partnerships Before HMD License Expiry Next Year, Microsoft

Nokia, once a large share in the market of mobile phones, is looking for partners for manufacturing her phones. The Finland company has an international licensing agreement with HMD Global. HMD also has its own phone division. It started marketing from last year under its branding of Nokia devices.

Nokia is considering the sale of smartphones with its brand. In a post on Reddit, the community manager of Nokia has asked mobile manufacturers of mobiles to contact through the company’s website who wants to partner with them. This is indicating that the company is considering the sale of smartphones with its branding. Nokia’s 10 -year licensing agreement with HMD Global is ending next year. However, it may be that this agreement is renewed.

HMD Global was started in 2016 by former Nokia Executives. Their purpose was to make Nokia’s brand re -popularized. For this, HMD signed a 10 -year licensing agreement for manufacturing and marketing of Nokia’s phones. Nokia’s phones were sold under Lumia branding by American tech company Microsoft for some periods. In February last year, HMD Global decided to launch Android smartphones with its branding. It removed Nokia’s branding from its smartphones and limited it to some feature phones.

Next year, Nokia will be allowed to sell his license to another mobile manufacturer, which can marketing and distribute smartphones with its branding. However, Nokia or HMD Global has not informed what their plans are after the agreement ends next year. Nokia had said in its annual report two years ago that its sales have declined but its patents are in a better position than the licensing agreement. Because of this, licensing in terms of patents and technologies is important for the company.