Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) is rolling up its sleeves to launch newer models of the Lumia series in the United States in order to speed up the demand for the Windows Phone, report Forbes. The Finnish smartphone maker launched two phones, Lumia 928 and 925 recently.
US market vital of Nokia
The Lumia flagship from Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) could not throw any startling performance over the past couple of months as the phone does not have wide presence in the United States. Around 400,000 handsets were sold by Nokia in the previous quarter in North America, which is 33 percent less than the corresponding period last year. The Smartphone market of the United States has continued to be one of the most vital markets for the Smartphone makers because the success of the phone in this market reflects in the market worldwide.
It has become important for Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) to explore the options in the United States where it is still not in competition to its rivals. The phone maker can derive benefits from making its presence on the carriers, which would give it a chance to increase its share, as well as make ground for the Windows Phone Platform in the United States. The newly launched BB10 devices will pose a tough challenge for Nokia.
The other major phone makers such as Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) and HTC Corp (TPE:2498) are more into Android platforms and that has helped Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) to acquire a major share of the Windows phone, which is in a growth phase as of now.
Carrier support
The Lumia 928 was launched on the Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), and Lumia 925 will be launched all over the world in the next few months. The Lumia 925 will be sold on T-Mobile USA, Inc. (TMUS). The other network carrier AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is already selling Lumia 920, which means that the high end series of Nokia-Lumia is available on all the important networks in the United States. As of now Sprint is one network carrier that is not tied to any Lumia phone. However, there are talks going around that soon there will be a Windows 8 phone launched on Sprint also.
Windows gaining momentum
Nokia at present has the major share of approximately 80 percent of the Windows Phone market. The Windows share in the Smartphone market is not very remarkable, which is at present not favoring of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V). But according to the recent data from the IDC, the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Smartphone Platform is gaining some traction steadily. For the first quarter of 2013, the market share of the Windows phone accounts for 3.2 percent, this is an increase from 2 percent from the previous year.
There are uncertainties reeling over Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) as if the Windows Platform will gain enough market shares in the Smartphone market.
