Key Takeaways
1. HMD Global is scaling back its operations in the U.S. due to a challenging geopolitical and economic environment.
2. The company is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for customers and will honor all warranty and service commitments.
3. HMD has previously stopped selling Nokia-branded devices in Europe and is now offering limited smartphone options in the U.S.
4. Current U.S. offerings include the HMD Fusion, HMD Skyline, HMD XR21, and several feature phones, but the online store is offline.
5. HMD is planning to release a new budget smartphone for the Indian market with a 6.74-inch display and a 90Hz refresh rate.
HMD Global, a Finnish company that makes smartphones and owns the Nokia brand, has revealed that it will be “scaling back” its operations in the United States. This decision comes as a result of “a challenging geopolitical and economic environment.”
Customer Transition
In a message posted on Threads by Wired’s Julian Chokkattu, the company emphasized its focus on ensuring “a seamless transition” for its customers and business partners. HMD will continue to honor all warranty and service commitments for the products that are still available in the market.
Support for Employees
The company also stated that it is dedicated to helping employees who are impacted by this transition. Last year, HMD stopped selling Nokia-branded devices in Europe, taking down its inventory from websites in nations like the UK and Germany.
Limited US Offerings
Under the HMD name, products like the repairable HMD Fusion, which received a score of 72% in our review, and the HMD Skyline, which scored 76%, are among the few smartphones that have reached the US market. The HMD XR21, essentially a rebranded Nokia XR21, and the HMD Vibe are also in the lineup. Other offerings were primarily feature phones, including the flip Barbie phone and the Heineken co-branded Boring phone.
As of now, the HMD Fusion, HMD Skyline, HMD XR21, HMD Vibe, the Barbie flip phone, and Nokia-branded feature phones are still listed on the website, although the store itself is currently offline. The “Where to buy” button is also not functioning.
Future Plans in India
Reports indicate that HMD is working on a new budget smartphone aimed at the Indian market. This device is rumored to feature a 6.74-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and likely utilizes a Unisoc T7200 12mm chip.
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