HMD Global will be using a channel-focused strategy in order to put Nokia-branded mobile phones back in the hands of enterprise users, Channel Pro has learned.
The company is in the process of re-establishing Nokia's previous position as a leader in the mobile space, building on last year's successful launches of devices such as the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 8. The company recently announced a number of new devices, and the general manager of the company's enterprise business, Andrej Sonkin, told Channel Pro its sales strategy for the B2B market will be predominantly driven through the channel.
"We're partnering with our sales channel partners and building channel programmes to have the best possible end-customer support through our channel partners," he said.
The company believes it has a strong position in the enterprise market due to the fact that all Nokia smartphones run stock Android operating systems, which are regularly updated and receive security patches every 30 days – a philosophy that HMD calls "pure, secure and up-to-date".
"We have tremendously positive feedback from the enterprise, but also from our channel partners because right now the market is starting to realise what 'pure, secure and up-to-date' Android devices can do in the enterprise," Sonkin said, "and they do see that there's a tremendous opportunity for everybody to go after this emerging market."
HMD also has the advantage of having its devices included in Google's Android Enterprise Recommended programme, which certifies that its products are suited for large-scale business deployments. The Nokia 8 was part of the programme's initial line-up, and will shortly be joined by new releases like the Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus and the new Nokia 6.
In addition to its smartphones, the company will also be selling its feature phones in the enterprise market. Sonkin told Channel Pro that the reliability and battery life offered by devices like the 3310 is still attractive to enterprise customers.
