One of my blog’s last week discussed how China gained the number one spot in app sessions and activations. Now, Nokia has announced it will start selling smartphones that use Microsoft software in China come April.
Chinese consumers will have the ability to purchase the Lumia 800C without a contract for 3,599 yuan, approximately $573 dollars, in April. Nokia also plans to launch the 610C, a cheaper priced model, in the second quarter. This move also helps China Telecom, the country’s third-largest carrier. Nokia has said it hopes to market all four of its Windows smartphones using the company’s wireless technology. Eventually, all Nokia Windows phones will become available on all three of China’s mobile networks.
Concluding Thoughts
Nokia has already taken steps to win back North American consumers. It makes sense the company is now positioning itself in China. The timing also coincides with Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, making an appearance in China this week to discuss labor violations and the trademark dispute.
As I previously mentioned with the Lumia release in the United States, Nokia and Microsoft have a lot at stake. Despite the ongoing issues with Apple in China, Nokia needs to compete. It also has to win back some market share from Samsung. In Q4 of 2011, Samsung overtook Nokia to become the number one mobile handset seller in China. Samsung had 24.3 percent of the market while Nokia captured 19.6 percent.
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