Nokia And Microsoft In Earlier Days

Rumors that Microsoft Corp. was to ditch their Nokia brand have finally come true. This was confirmed by the Verge yesterday, and it was also stated on the Nokia France Facebook Page that within the next few days followers should expect a name change to the site; the same name changes will also be seen on its Twitter and other social media accounts.

The rebranding will start in France and move into other countries shortly after. Right now Lumia devices show the Nokia logo on the front and back. What’s not exactly clear at the moment is if the Nokia logo will be replaced simply by Microsoft, or Lumia, or whether they will go for the longer combination of Microsoft Lumia.

The transition has been expected for some time, seeing that Microsoft’s Window Phone Store apps had already ditched the Nokia name in recent months. Following the $7.17 billion takeover of Nokia’s mobile phone division it was also stated by Nokia’s former CEO, Stephen Elop, that soon enough Microsoft would be ditching the Nokia name.

It’s a sad end in some ways, seeing as the old Nokia phones will bring a smile to anyone’s face who is old enough to remember life before ‘Likes’. The Nokia 3310 almost has mythical status. Launched in 2000, the coffin shaped hand-held device became a worldwide superstar, selling 126 million units.

The Nokia name will of course live on, only as a new entity that focuses on mapping and location services, network infrastructure and technology development. Just yesterday the Finnish company launched its HERE maps to a broader audience. The firm is by no means down and out. In a September blog post Barry French, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nokia wrote, “We may not be the same Nokia of several years ago, but we are here, we are strong, and our brand is very much still alive. Not to mention kicking!”