HMD International, the corporate finest recognized for licensing the Nokia model for brand spanking new telephones and tablets over the past decade, has introduced that it’s going to “cut back” its US operations, and seems to have stopped promoting each HMD and Nokia gadgets completely.
The withdrawal was confirmed in a press release shared by Wired’s Julian Chokkattu on Threads, and acknowledges “a difficult geopolitical and financial surroundings,” which sounds prefer it is perhaps a well mannered method of claiming “tariffs.”
Whereas HMD’s assertion doesn’t verify an entire departure from the US market, its website tells a distinct story. HMD’s webstore is now not on-line, and product pages both give no shopping for info, or have a “The place to purchase” button that isn’t useful, although some handsets are nonetheless that can be purchased from Amazon and different retailers.
HMD advised Chokkattu that it’s going to proceed to honor “guarantee protection and repair for current merchandise,” which might be dealt with by the corporate’s international assist groups. As for US workers, the corporate has not confirmed particulars of any job losses, however says it’s “dedicated to supporting [US staff] throughout this transition.” We’ve reached out to HMD for remark.
Primarily based in Finland, HMD was formed in 2016 with a purpose to buy the Nokia characteristic cellphone enterprise from Microsoft, which had in flip purchased the ailing model in 2014. It additionally secured a license to make use of the Nokia title on smartphones and tablets, with a give attention to reasonably priced and midrange {hardware}.
In 2023 HMD announced plans to launch merchandise underneath its personal model, together with the repairable Skyline (which, oddly, stays the solely Android cellphone with Qi2 assist), together with model partnerships just like the Barbie flip phone and the Heineken Boring Phone. Ever since, Nokia has been relegated to characteristic telephones. Solely 4 HMD-branded smartphones ever launched within the US, and none because the modular HMD Fusion got here out in September 2024, although a number of different HMD telephones have launched internationally in that point.
Right here’s HMD International’s assertion in full:
“Like many international companies, HMD is navigating a difficult geopolitical and financial surroundings. After cautious consideration, we have now made the choice to cut back our US operations. Our precedence is guaranteeing a seamless transition for our clients and companions. We’ll proceed to honour all obligations, together with guarantee protection and repair for current merchandise, and supply full assist by our international groups. We deeply worth the contributions of our US colleagues impacted by this variation and are dedicated to supporting them throughout this transition. HMD stays targeted on long-term development, with sturdy momentum throughout our mainstream enterprise and key segments corresponding to Household, Safe, and Microfinancing.”