Earlier this week at MWC 2018, HMD Global unveiled the Nokia 8 Sirocco and the Nokia 8110. However, if you were hoping to get your hands on either device, you will be disappointed because according to an interview with CNET, HMD’s CEO and President Florian Seiche confirmed that Nokia phones will not be coming to the US this year with any carrier partners.
Seiche says, “Otherwise I would have mentioned it. It’s not a core focus for this year, but certainly it is on our road map.” He also said that there are plans to make Nokia one of the leading smartphone makers again in the next few years and return the name to glory. “Our ambition is to become again one of the leading players, which means, top five or better in the next three to five years.”
It seems odd that HMD is choosing to ignore the US market with the mobile carrier, especially during a time when many other companies are trying to make their way into the US market. It could be that HMD is relying on emerging markets to help gain more market share, since it was recently confirmed that future Nokia phones will be Android One handsets, which are a series of Android phones designed for these markets. The company have confirmed that they will be launching the Nokia 6 in the US in May, although it will not be available with the mobile carriers unless things change.
