Nokia "Has No Plans" to Make Smartphones in 2016

Nokia have moved to dispel news stories which started circulating on Friday that they would be returning to smartphone manufacturing in 2016, as soon as their agreement with Microsoft not to make devices expires.

Nokia’s President of China Mike Wang was reported to have confirmed rumours that the Finnish company would be bringing out smartphones running Android in 2016 to go along with the Android powered N1 tablet that came out earlier this year. There was a distinct lack of quotes in these reports, but Nokia have since put the following statement on their website:

“Nokia notes recent news reports claiming the company communicated an intention to manufacture consumer handsets out of a R&D facility in China. These reports are false. Nokia reiterates it currently has no plans to manufacture or sell consumer handsets”

This news may come as a disappointment to those who have long hoped to see a high end Android smartphone from Nokia, but this is not to say it definitely won’t happen, Sebastian Nystrom, the head of products at Nokia’s Technologies told Reuters last year “It would be crazy not to look at that opportunity. Of course we will look at (manufacturing smartphones).”

Source Reuters