This week, HMD Global launched its next flagship, the Nokia 8 – a high-end smartphone with stock Android. With the launch, the company also introduced the concept of a live “bothie”, a mode that allows users to capture images and videos on the phone using both the rear and front camera. The device is priced at Rs 36, 999 and will rival the likes of the OnePlus 5.
The eight-month-old company grabbed the headlines in May when it relaunched the iconic Nokia 3310. Although the company could create some buzz around its relaunch, the phone never really could match up with its predecessor in from 2000.
On their strategy for India, particularly when the market has seen Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Huawei have spent a lot of money to promote their devices at affordable price points, HMD said it is banking on the nostalgia surrounding the Nokia brand.
“Yes, a lot of money is being spent by these brands in marketing. But, we have the small advantage of a brand that is loved and known to many. There is 100 percent awareness already. So, our marketing efforts can be directed mainly on driving preference consideration and converting the consumer,” said Ajey Mehta, India head of HMD Global, told BloombergQuint.
Mehta said the company hopes to be among the top players in India in three to four years. He said they would be coming out with Nokia models in different price ranges to cater to all sections of consumers.
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