Nokia Withdraws From Japan

By Jane McEntegart, published on November 28, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: , , , , | Themes: Smartphones, Business
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Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has said it will withdraw from the Japanese market almost completely. The company announced Thursday that, aside from its luxury line of Vertu phones, it will be stepping back from the mobile phone market in Japan.

The current financial crisis is affecting everyone and the technology industry is not immune to cost cutting. A representative from the company spoke to Forbes and explained why the company has decided to pull back from Japan. "In the current economic climate we have been forced to sharpen our business focus," the rep said. According to Forbes, 50 jobs will be lost in total and a group of 350 people, mainly researchers will be kept on at the company.

Nokia will cease manufacturing phones for NTT DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile however, the company’s expensive line of Vertu phones will remain on Japanese shelves. The handsets are costly and depending on the model, will set you back between $5,000 to $10,000.

The BBC reports that foreign companies account for only 5 percent of the Japanese mobile market, with the rest of the market share belonging to local Japanese companies who churn out handsets with features such as TV broadcasting and electronic payment methods.

Read the full story on Forbes.

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Comments

WheelsOfConfusion 11/28/2008 8:25 PM
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Vertu phones include corundum screens. I'm not surprised they can keep that line alive in Japan.

Pei-chen 11/29/2008 12:15 PM
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Check out the Vertu line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6cXiiX2zNk

Can the European actually make stuff that's doesn't carry a 200% price premium. Luxury watch doesn't keep time as well as Japanese watch. Luxury phones don’t make call or download data better than Japanese phones. Expensive lens aren't necessarily sharper than Japanese lens. European car isn't as reliable as Japanese cars.

It seems Europe is living on others' affection and not actual industrial output.

cl_spdhax1 11/29/2008 9:10 AM
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sounds like someone (above) has routan envy..

Pei-chen 11/29/2008 10:43 PM
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cl_spdhax1 :
sounds like someone (above) has routan envy..


Well, as a dude, I don't plan to drive a minivan.

aevm 11/30/2008 2:21 AM
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$5000 for a cell phone? It's insane. For one thing, you can get a decent cell phone for a few hundred bucks. For another, it increases chances you'd end up dead. In my city a guy was killed for a $200 iPod earlier this year.

Pei-chen 11/30/2008 4:15 AM
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aevm :
$5000 for a cell phone? It's insane. For one thing, you can get a decent cell phone for a few hundred bucks. For another, it increases chances you'd end up dead. In my city a guy was killed for a $200 iPod earlier this year.


Check out the video I posted; the top of the line limited edition phone is $310,000

aevm 11/30/2008 7:27 AM
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Cool! I'll buy a couple of those for Christmas gifts :)

Anonymous 11/30/2008 9:54 PM
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doctorpink 12/01/2008 7:16 AM
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emil kr :
Who the fuck has asked you to buy one, Pei-chen? Tell us something we don't know and stop raving on about Europe vs. Japan.


i think you have some anger.... dont worry...pei never bought one and will never ...

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