HMD has come a long way in reviving Nokia phones after purchasing the Microsoft trademark rights in 2016. However, despite enjoying 20% year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2019Nokia phones have not been as successful in the US as the company expected, which is something HMD product director Juho Sarvikas wants to change now that he is adding the vice president for North America to his list of titles.
Currently, Nokia / HMD is in a somewhat difficult situation because, although operators have picked up some of its budget and mid-range devices, Nokia still does not enjoy the widespread availability of other Android phones from companies such as Samsung, Google or even LG That means Nokia has to fight for sales on US open channels (through external retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and others), which only account for about 10% of all phone purchases in the USA (Compared to about 90% sold by operators))
But as one of the first moves as head of HMD’s North American division, Sarvikas says HMD is “doubling down” in the US and hopes to work more closely with operators while bringing in more phones from the European division of HMD starting with Nokia 8.3 5G.
With a large 6.8-inch screen, Snapdragon 765G processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, quad rear cameras, and an expected price of around $ 650, the 8.3 5G is looking to hit the sweet spot between mid-range and phones. high-end smart while undermining the OnePlus 8 as one of the least expensive 5G phones on the market. Also, while the Nokia 8.3 5G will not be immediately available for purchase through any of the major US carriers, Nokia says the 8.3 5G should be compatible with all existing 5G networks in the US. .
But what could be more important to smartphone fans in general is that with HMD seeking to increase cooperation between its North American and European divisions, HMD promises to bring more of its niche phones and fun retro revivals like the Nokia 8 Sirocco and the Nokia 8110 To the US These phones They are often the most exciting phones Nokia announces each year, but they are rarely supported or sold by American retailers.
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HMD / Nokia is also in an interesting position, as it is one of the few phone manufacturers that has a wide range of traditional smartphones and phones with less expensive features (also known as dumb phones), which have seen a bit of a revival. in recent years. People looking for cheap backup phones or phones that don’t constantly send spam emails to their owners with notifications.
That being said, saying that you are investing more in the US and you really are are two very different things. So while bringing the Nokia 8.3 5G is a decent start, HMD will take much more than a single device to transform Nokia into one of America’s leading phone brands again.
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