NEW DELHI: Nokia had terrible years in the past, but this doesn’t take away the fact that it was this very company that defined the mobile industry for over a decade prior since its launch in 1990, and gave us some of the most memorable phones.
With the launch of its Android-based 3,5 and 6 phones and the re-launched 3310 feature phone, which is selling like hot cakes, Nokia is set to shake up the handset market once again, with Chinese and Korean handset makers planning to re-launch feature phones in India.
In 2014, Microsoft acquired Nokia’s struggling devices and services business and the company shut down its manufacturing units across the globe.
However, last year, the Finnish company HMD Global bought a part of Microsoft’s feature phone business which also gave HMD, led by former Nokia and Microsoft executive Arto Numella, the approval to sell and manufacture smart phones under the Nokia brand.
“Nokia has opened up an opportunity for the handset makers to create a brand in feature phones,” said Pankaj Mohindroo, founder and president of Indian Cellular Association.
Micromax, Samsung, LG along with Oppo, Gionee, Vivo, Redmi, Motorola, Karbon and the Lava hold a significant control over the price sensitive
Indian market. Apple,too, has a niche market share in the top end segment of handsets. So the real test for Nokia will be to how well it will compete with a Galaxy S8 or iPhone 7 in India.
Micromax has already indicated that it is mulling to introduce a feature phone and discussions within the company and market have been positive. Samsung, LG and Lava are already have been toying with the idea and are likely to announce a feature phone by year end, sources in industry said.