Microsoft confirms binning of Nokia branding, opts for Lumia instead
Microsoft has officially confirmed that it’s going to be killing off the Nokia name for future handsets.
The Redmond, CA, based company told The Verge that it’s going to ditch the Finnish moniker for ‘Microsoft Lumia’.
We’ve already heard plenty of rumours that Microsoft would be binning Nokia nomenclature, but this is the first official statement on the matter.
We recently saw Nokia.com make the switch and start pointing towards Microsoft’s mobile device site.
The new Microsoft Lumia push is expected to be more forceful than mere re-directs however, with all social media channels expected to undergo a rebranding.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Nokia though – the Finnish firm will be continuing as a mapping and network organisation under its classic Nokia name. It’s only the Microsoft mobile division that getting the makeover.
It’s not just Nokia that’s being ditched either, as Microsoft’s set to completely remove ‘Windows Phone’ from its product lines too, instead dubbing it as plain old Windows.
The move is likely a result of Microsoft wanting to reduce confusion over its product lines. Having a raft of tags like Microsoft, Lumia, Nokia, and Windows Phone can be a headache for the non-savvy.
Nokia France is tipped to be the first country that will make the switch to Microsoft Lumia, with the rest of the world to follow shortly thereafter.
Microsoft’s not yet announced a timeframe for its rebranding exercise, although there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing Lumia, not Nokia, all throughout this holiday season.
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