Beleaguered mobile phone handset maker Nokia has something up its sleeve. A mysterious post on its “Conversations with Nokia” page teases the company has something big to announce. There’s no additional information, apart from a launch date and time, and the word “Nokia” on a bright orange background.
Speculation has it the company could be launching a tablet – which would fit with the idea of “something big” or perhaps, again appropriately, a new Lumia with a 4.7 inch screen.
Nokia fans can tune in at 9am UK time on Tuesday to find out what the news is.
Nokia has faced significant challenges over the last few years as smartphones have come to dominate the high end market. Just over two years ago Nokia signed an exclusive deal to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, replacing its in-house operating systems.
The company’s chief executive, Stephen Elop, promised a turn-around in just over two years, but the company continues to bleed money, and the Windows Phone platform, despite having overtaken BlackBerry for the number three platform slot, is still having trouble gaining traction.
Some Nokia shareholders have called for a radical change in strategy, including adopting Google’s Android platform. Chief executive Elop, however, has said that won’t happen, as the Android platform is increasingly dominated by one manufacturer – Samsung.
A further consideration is the platform playments made my Microsoft to Nokia, which total around $US250 million per year as an incentive for the Finnish company to stay with Windows.
There’s even been talk of Nokia going up for sale, and Microsoft being the most likely suitor. However recent media reports indicate that while talks have taken place, they didn’t go anywhere.
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