14 DAY TRIAL // After Nokia sold off its failing mobile division to Microsoft, the Finnish company has remained with only three businesses: Nokia Networks, the HERE Mapping suite and Nokia Technologies.
Now slowly but surely Nokia is breathing new life into these divisions. For starters, Nokia Networks just acquired the French telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent for over €15.6 / $16.6 billion.
The Finnish company also said it was in the process of reviewing its HERE Mapping business, which they might even consider selling.
A recent report claimed the phone maker has already approached possible buyers such as Uber Technologies and a group of German car manufacturers that have also shown some interest in the service.
Facebook might be interested in purchasing Nokia's HERE business
Well, this week offers us yet another window onto Nokia’s plans for HERE Maps (as seen at NDTV). It looks like Nokia’s mapping service has attracted the interest of at least four buyers, including social media giant Facebook.
The consortium of German carmakers BMW, Audi and Daimler is also mentioned. The information comes to us via German magazine Manager Magazin, which cited people familiar with the matter who also claim local transportation service Uber has its eyes set out on HERE. Last but not least, we’re told that US private equity firm Hellman & Friedman is also considering buying from Nokia.
If we’re to believe the information, the total book value of the unit is €2 / $2.15 billion. Both Nokia and Facebook declined to comment the report and Uber, Hellman & Friedman, BMW, Audi and Daimler weren't available to comment.
Nokia is also prepping its re-entry into the smartphone market
This piece of news comes a week after another report earlier this week which claimed Nokia was looking to re-enter the smartphone market as soon as next year.
This move will be achieved by virtue of Nokia’s third remaining business, Nokia Technologies which is in charge of licensing patents from the company’s extensive portfolio of about 10,000 units.
Since the company is restricted from using the Nokia brand on phones until Q4 2016, the device maker can design whole products and license them to other companies so that they can be sold on the market.
That’s exactly what Nokia did with its N1 tablet, which was the second slate after the Nexus 9 to be launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.
Nokia is slowly getting bold in trying to open up a new chapter of its saga.