Nokia is finally coming back to the US years after it had shut its doors. Known for their virtually indestructible and ubiquitous cellphones, the Finnish tech company made some of the most widely-used phones in the world in the early 2000s. However, they struggled greatly ever since smartphones became the next big thing. They had to sell their mobile device divisions as a result.
What happened to Nokia?
Since Nokia was unable to adapt to the ever-increasing digital landscape, they had no other choice but to sell. Microsoft bought the company sometime in 2013. In only a matter of years, they had to shut it down completely. Nokia has been on a hiatus since then. However, thanks to another Finnish company called HMD, Nokia is back in business.
HMD bought Nokia’s naming rights. In 2016, the company also bought back the old mobile device division from Microsoft.
What has Nokia been up to?
Staying true to Nokia’s well-known reputation for making durable devices, HMD has spent a great deal of time and effort in creating affordable smartphones that are also well-built. They’ve rolled out revamped versions of the 3310 and 8110. Since the company has adapted well to the digital era, they’ve been creating decent smartphones. Like Nokia used to, HMD also continues to sell cellphone units for a reasonable price.
Now, HMD has its eyes set on entering the US market. Consumers who buy HMD-made handsets need to go through retailers like Amazon and Best Buy to get their hands on them. These consumers, however, represent a small piece of the US market. To make it big in the country, HMD handsets likely need to be available in cellular carriers, where Americans prefer to purchase their phones. Yet even if they don’t, their brand will continue to be visible to this promising market.
What Nokia handsets are available in the US?
Earlier this year, the company announced that it has partnered with Cricket Wireless, a more affordable subsidiary of the AT&T network. They’re also working hand-in-hand with Verizon. HMD provides exclusive Nokia phones for both of these carriers, and the 5.9-inch Nokia 3.1 is one of them. The smartphone features two rear cameras, built for capturing that perfect portrait shot. Under its hood, it has a 3,500 mAh battery. It can also hold as much as 32 GB worth of storage.
Nokia 3.1 is currently available to Cricket subscribers for $160.
As for prepaid Verizon users, they have the option to purchase the Nokia 2V, a smaller 5.5-inch smartphone with a massive battery life. It has front-firing speakers, making it an ideal low-budget device for casual online gaming.
Nokia V2 phone is available to prepaid Verizon users for $69.99.
Like the good old days, Nokia has some of the most affordable and durable devices in the market. Now they’re pushing out decent smartphones, including a reboot of the 3310 and 8110 phones, for a reasonable price. Even in 2019, a Nokia smartphone won’t cost an arm and a leg.