Nokia May Re-Launch the Asha Brand as HMD Global Acquires Trademark

Now a new report is pointing towards the brand releasing a completely new series of phones in the coming months. HMD might consider reviving the smartphone line instead of a feature phone lineup. Well, new details have emerged which show that HMD Global, the company which is spearheading Nokia's revival by producing Android smartphones under its name, has trademarked the Asha brand once again.

Some readers may remember from a while back Nokia used to have a feature phone brand dubbed "Asha"; the devices were highly affordable and particularly aimed at developing markets, though were available in developed markets also. The trademark to acquire Asha was registered in November 2011 and the transfer was completed on January 9, 2018. Based on Android 8.0 Oreo, the Go edition is a stripped down, resource-friendly version of the operating system that would let phone makers launch sub-$30 smartphones. As spotted by Nokia-focused blog LoveNokia, the trademark allows the company to build "computer software platform used in mobile telephones and smartphones; mobile phones and smart phones" as well as "wireless communication services namely for computer software used in mobile telephones and smartphones".

Nokia/HMD have been rumoured to be producing an Android Go phone already, previously dubbed the Nokia 1, could this hit the market with Asha branding? The entry-level smartphone is expected to launch in March, following a global unveiling at the Mobile World Congress in late-February. It is worth noting here that neither the trademark information at EUIPO nor HMD Global has so far confirmed any details regarding the Asha brand label.