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Nokia is now officially part of Microsoft
As expected, Nokia's devices and services business has been officially acquired by Microsoft today. The date was set earlier this week, and it seals the deal the two companies entered into last September. Nokia has long been allied with Microsoft, committing fully to Windows Phone, but as explained when the merger was announced, Microsoft's new arm will continue to support feature phones like the Asha and Nokia X ranges, as well as smartphones (we'll have to wait to see what "support" means exactly). The obligatory press releases from both companies don't reveal any grand plans or shift in focus, but each side has issued some closing remarks, if you like. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said: "Today we welcome the Nokia Devices and Services business to our family. The mobile capabilities and assets they bring will advance our transformation. Together with our partners, we remain focused on delivering innovation more rapidly in our mobile-first, cloud-first world."
Nokia's dumbphones face an uncertain future at Microsoft
"Year-on-year decline." Those are words that no company looks forward to publishing in its earnings reports, but unfortunately we've seen them printed more often than not on Nokia's quarterly statements. Though there have been a few ups and downs, struggling profits and sales have been a general concern for a long time, and unfortunately this quarter's earnings report did little to soothe our worries; Nokia sold 600,000 fewer Lumias than the previous quarter. Now that Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's devices and services division is nearly complete, much of our focus has turned to how the merger will affect the Lumia lineup of Windows Phones. An even bigger mystery at the moment, however, is what Microsoft will choose to do with the rest of Nokia's phones -- namely, the Mobile Phone division, which consists of the company's basic featurephones and the Asha lineup of advanced featurephones, none of which run Windows Phone. Just after Microsoft announced its intent to acquire the phone maker, Nokia insisted that the division wasn't going anywhere; it has "substantial global reach ... and a strong customer base," but in emerging markets like India and China, it faces intense competition from fully functional smartphone platforms for a similar cost. Even worse, as we learned in yesterday's report, sales from this division were flat -- and as the competition gets heavier, it's going to get worse, not better. Is it worth it for Microsoft to try saving a lineup of handsets that don't feature Windows Phone OS? Or does it make more sense to push lower-end Lumia devices to cater to the next billion smartphone users?
Rumored Nokia Normandy prototype surfaces on Twitter, reveals little
That thing up there? Word on the street (that is, Twitter) is that it's an engineering prototype of the Nokia Normandy, a low-end Android device due sometime in 2014. The name has been floating around for a few months now, often accompanied by images flaunting Nokia's usual design cues but without the hardware shutter button or LED flash that adorn its Lumia devices. Normally, that would peg the hardware for Nokia's Asha line, but rumors persist that the Normandy will actually be running a Nokia-tweaked version of Google's open-source OS. Screenshots leaked earlier this month also suggested that the device would support dual SIMs and showed off mockups with touchscreen notifications and a customized Skype app. Unfortunately, the leaked device doesn't do much to add or detract from that rumor, revealing only a generic back button, a Nokia boot screen and a rubberized case that obfuscates the handset's features. Still, something is clearly afoot; we'll let you know when we know what, exactly, it is. Update: A separate leaked image is doing the rounds, which purports to show the app drawer from Nokia's Android skin running on a live Normandy handset. The source is Zhang Zhicheng, a blogger at a well-known Chinese tech site, but the skin seems to be lacking Nokia's usual gloss -- check it out below.
Nokia Normandy rumored to be low-end Android-based phone
The image you see above is the rumored Nokia Normandy, which Twitter leakster @evleaks revealed at the end of last month. While not much was known about the device at the time, the lack of hardware shutter button, capacitive buttons and LED flash indicated that this mystery phone was likely an Asha device intended for emerging markets or budget-minded users. Yet, if a report from The Verge's Tom Warren is accurate, there may actually be a lot more to the Normandy than what we had originally assumed. Warren has checked with multiple sources who claim that the phone is an Android-based device due for a 2014 release. This may seem like a stretch, given the fact that Nokia's device division is currently awaiting an acquisition with Microsoft, but Warren offers a few points of clarification. First, he says, the Normandy is meant to be a low-end Asha equivalent that features a forked version of Android that isn't associated with Google services, which means Nokia would be able to fully customize it however it wants, much like Amazon does with its Kindle Fire. Doing this would still give Nokia full control over the device ecosystem, while giving users the chance to enjoy full smartphone apps -- something the company has had a difficult time figuring out how to do on the Asha line. The question is, would Nokia rely on a third-party app store or try to set up one of its very own? That's still an unknown, but this is assuming the Normandy even sees the light of day; if the rumor is true, our guess is that this project was already underway before Microsoft's acquisition, and will probably be released before the merger is complete -- if it gets released at all.
Stephen Elop says he's ready for change at Microsoft
All eyes are on Stephen Elop. Just hours ago, he introduced Nokia's first Windows tablet; he's also overseeing his division's integration into Microsoft; and Redmond is even considering him as its next CEO. During our interview today, Elop understandably couldn't comment on the prospect of taking Steve Ballmer's place, but he did say he's ready to take up the challenge of bringing the two giants together, no matter what. "I'm looking forward to being a part of driving that change within the company in whatever capacity," Elop said.
Nokia adds 500, 502 and 503 to its Asha lineup, starts at $69
Nokia's biggest announcements in Abu Dhabi today are focusing on Lumia devices first and foremost, but it's not leaving the Asha lineup out in the Finnish cold. After boasting that 26 million Ashas have sold so far, the company's announced that it's adding three successors to the Asha 501, the petite smartphone/featurephone hybrid released in May: the 500, the 502 and the 503. All three sport the same primary colored plastic casing as the 501, but with a new "Ice" layer of transparent polycarbonate. They'll be available in bright red, bright green, yellow, cyan, white and black.
LinkedIn lands on Nokia Asha touch phones, lets S40 users network like a boss
Considering how popular Nokia's Series 40 handsets are worldwide, it should come as no surprise that the platform is finally getting a dedicated LinkedIn client. The app, which is available on the Nokia Store for free, is designed specifically for Series 40 touch phones like the sexy new Asha 501 (it also supports the Asha 305, 306, 308, 309, 310 and 311). Existing users can update their LinkedIn stream, manage their inbox, search their network and check their profile, while new users can sign up right from the login screen. LinkedIn for Series 40 comes hot on the heels of last month's Foursquare client and joins the existing Symbian and Windows Phone apps. Check the source links below for more info.
Foursquare hits Nokia's GPS-less Asha 501, gets bearings with connection data
Nokia Lumia WP8 owners have it pretty good on Foursquare thanks to AR and other exclusive features -- but that doesn't mean lower-end device owners are being shirked. The app is now available on the Asha 501, something Nokia and Foursquare promised when it hit the Series 40 smartphone and its huge user base. Despite the Asha's lack of a GPS, owners of the sub-$100 device will get all of Foursquare's main features -- like check-ins, mayorships and badges -- since the app can use a network connection to figure out where you are. It'll likely arrive on other Asha devices soon as well, so if you're looking to rule your local haunt as mayor, better grab it fast.
Foursquare arrives for Nokia S40s, mayoral population explodes worldwide (update)
Foursquare is looking to make at least 1.5 billion new mayors. The app that gamified being out and about announced that starting today, it's available for Nokia S40 phones. While we haven't seen an Asha in North America in some time, the model line's dominance in emerging markets is nothing to sneeze at. The check-in service also announced its app will be preloaded on "a bunch of new Asha devices" when they're released "in a few months." We've contacted Nokia and Foursquare because the S40 line rolls deep, and will update this post when we find out if the app requires GPS to work -- Nokia's Nearby doesn't. To test it out for yourself, the source links are a click away. Update: Nokia confirmed to us that Foursquare does not require GPS to work with S40. We're still waiting on a list of those new Asha devices.
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 27th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, a new addition to the LG L-Series surfaced in Russia, a Lumia 920 was sighted that'd make Oscar the Grouch flip, and TalkTalk added three new devices from Huawei to its roster. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of May 27th, 2013.
Nokia launches Music with Mix Radio app on Asha, starting in Russia
While the Asha line lacks the glamor of Nokia's WP8 smartphones, it outsells its big-shot siblings by a wide margin. Now, owners of those handsets will be able to grab Nokia's Music with Mix Radio, an app that was previously available only on Windows and Windows Phone 8. Other WP8 hand-me-downs like Transit and Xpress Now have already hit the budget platform, showing it's far from being Nokia's neglected child. While missing some WP8 features, Asha Music users will get 2G/3G and WiFi streaming, 100 channels of curated content and offline storage of up to four mixes. You'll likely have to wait a few weeks to grab it though -- unless you're in the launch country of Russia.
Nokia teases 'colorful' announcement Thursday from New Delhi
Nokia already has one (likely Lumia 928-related) surprise scheduled for next week on the 14th, but it's doubling up by teasing more news Thursday in India. Scheduled for noon in New Delhi (2:30AM ET), all we have to go on are hints about "color", the yellow picture above and word that it's an "exciting global event." Executive VP of sales and marketing Chris Weber tweeted we should expect "Colorful Nokia news and so much more," but didn't reveal anything else. You have a little over 24 hours to wildly (or not so wildly, the location and timing suggests the Lumia brand won't be involved) speculate, let us know what you're thinking it could be in the comments below.
Nokia teases QWERTY phone announcement on April 24th
Official teasers rarely provide much in the way of detail, but this one from Nokia at least comes with a pretty picture. It reveals the rounded design language we have come to associate with the company's latest feature phones, but with Z and Shift keys that imply we're looking at a physical QWERTY handset rather than a candy bar -- potentially something along the lines of the Asha 205. The picture is accompanied by a blog post confirming that this'll be a product from Nokia's Mobile Phones team rather than the folks behind Lumia, and that the announcement will happen at 7am GMT (3am ET) this Wednesday. The time zone is suggestive of an Asian or European launch, so it may or may not be worth setting your alarm clock.
Nokia Transit makes the commute over to Asha touchscreen phones, adds public transport info
Inviting beta testers, Nokia has brought its city navigation app, Transit, to its Asha touchscreen range. Like the Windows Phone and Symbian iterations, you'll be able to plan trips across multiple public transport routes, save particular journeys as well as research departure and arrival times. It's all crafted in those familiar rounded lines of previous S40 software and is also the first location app that Nokia has tested for its Asha range, which remain a lucrative component of the company's business. The app (currently in Nokia's Beta Labs) will work with Asha numbers 305 through 311, although the sleek lines of the Asha 310 are absent from the line-up at the moment.
We're live at the Nokia MWC press event!
Are you curious as to what mystery gadgets are hanging out in Stephen Elop's pocket right now? So are we, and thankfully we won't have to wait much longer to find out. The Nokia CEO is set to take the stage at MWC in just a few minutes to show off the latest and greatest mobile wares coming out of Finland, so sit down and join us as we bring you the announcements as they come.
Nokia announces Asha 310, offers dual SIM and WiFi for a Benjamin
After being deemed smartphone worthy back in September last year, the S40 platform has just gained another member with the $102 Nokia Asha 310. The follow-up to the Asha 308 and 309, the latest handset rocks a 3-inch 400 x 240 capacitive touchscreen and touts support for a pair of SIMs along with WiFi -- the very first such device to come out of Espoo. Other specs include easy swap functionality, 128MB internal storage expandable up to 32GB, Nokia's Xpress Browser, a 2-megapixel camera and Nokia Maps navigation. Alas there's no 3G, but WiFi should at least come in handy to download the 40 free EA games on offer. No word on stateside availability just yet, but expect it to land in emerging markets in the Q1 of this year.
Nokia says Lumia smartphones did 'better than expected' last quarter: 4.4 million units sold
In the process of drawing up its quarterly results, Nokia has uncovered some good news to report. The manufacturer says its Lumia portfolio "delivered better than expected results" in Q4, selling 4.4 million units compared to just 2.9 million in Q3. The Asha series also did well, with 9.3 million units shifted. In the same breath, however, the company's accountants warn that Q1 of this year may not be so glowing, due to "seasonality and the competitive environment." All financial results are preliminary at this point -- we'll learn more more when the final report arrives in a couple of weeks.
Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more
It's been a whirlwind week of all things Nokia for our Engadget crew here in Helsinki, Finland. With a (nearly) all access pass to the company's glass House in Espoo, we brought you a very candid, very live Q&A with CEO Stephen Elop -- recorded for posterity with the Lumia 920 -- as well as in-depth proofs of that handset's game-changing rear camera module. From side-by-side low light comparison shots with other leading smartphones to optical image stabilization tests and even a peek behind the Finnish outfit's R&D practices, we've got it all. So, if you haven't had time to catch up with this flurry of pre-launch news from behind the blue velvet rope, now's your chance. Just click on past the break for the full recap.
The Engadget Interview (captured with Lumia 920): Nokia CEO Stephen Elop on WP8 and beyond
Do you know what's better than one interview with Stephen Elop? Two interviews in one month. We'd barely recovered from yesterday's bout of nostalgia when we were given the opportunity to sit down with Nokia's CEO in his office at the company's HQ. Better yet, we were allowed to record the discussion with a hand-held Lumia 920 prototype. The resulting video is remarkably stable. Full disclosure: the audio was recorded with a shotgun mic mounted on a Sony NEX-C3 camera. We talked about HTC's colorful "signature" Windows Phone 8X and 8S and what that means for the Nokia-Microsoft partnership. Next we asked if Nokia is planning to work with carriers to offer incentives for existing Lumia owners to upgrade to the company's 920 and 820 handsets. Finally, we discussed the evolution of PureView imaging technology from the 808 to the 920 and how Nokia plans to combine these building blocks in the future. Hit the break for our video interview.
Visualized: Nokia's Asha 308, 309 in-house lunchtime launch
Typically, when OEMs launch the next generation of their mobile wares, we're treated to painstakingly choreographed industry parties (that we chronicle in great detail). In fact, we can think of a recent one in particular that saw several tech journos corralled into a blue-hued freight elevator and then let loose on three levels of demos. Well, if you thought new product excitement began and ended with select press events or that executive-level enthusiasm was all just a by-product of intense media training, think again. As you can see from the image above, lunch time at Nokia's glass-walled HQ saw a crowd of curious employees noshing on the assortment of cafeteria delights while also sampling the newly announced Asha 308 and 309. It's that company-wide, inside-out passion for all things Nokia we've seen evidence of again and again throughout our time in Espoo. And because of that, we feel justified in saying there's clearly something in the Finnish water. Zach Honig contributed to this report.