After relaunching the Nokia branded smartphones now is the turn for HMD Global to work on the feature phones with “Asha” branding. Microsoft, a couple of years ago, acquired the mobile series of Nokia. Not just that, it had also worked on Asha brand name. Since before the time Microsoft took over the Nokia brand, the Asha brand belonged to the Finnish tech giant. The Asha phones were nothing but the budget-segment feature phones with lower price tags.
The recent reports point out that HMD Global is seemingly interested in manufacturing the Asha feature phones and is very soon planning to launch Asha phones as HMD Global has now trademarked the brand. According to what GizmoChina has published, it appears that HMD Global is set to bring the Asha feature phones after it trademarked the moniker with European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Report from EUIPO filing states that the Asha trademark can be used “for Computer software platform used in mobile telephones and smartphones; mobile phones and smartphones and Wireless communication services namely for computer software used in mobile telephones and smartphones”.
To recall, fans have earlier wholeheartedly been impressed with the Asha branding. The brand was quite successful in emerging markets. Then Microsoft canceled the Asha series of phones, however. Apparently, because it competed with low-priced Lumia handsets like the Lumia 435. Now the Finnish tech giant has bagged the Asha brand from Microsoft. However, we are still left to get the confirmation from the company to launch the Asha feature phones.
HMD Global is currently working on a feature phone with the model number TA-1047. And as per earlier reports, the company is also working on the Nokia 3310 4G which is expected to debut anytime shortly. As of now, we expect the Asha feature phones to debut anytime. But until any confirmation, we have to wait for the rumor mill to offer more information on this front.
