A WELL-known phone brand is pulling the plug on its business in the United States after quietly yanking two of its once-popular models from shelves.
Despite not formally announcing a full exit, all signs point to the brand disappearing from the US market.
The company has taken down its iconic phones from the US webstore and stopped direct sales (stock image)[/caption]
The company says it’s scaling back due to a tough economic and political climate (stock image)[/caption]
Its US webstore has gone offline, and some product pages either offer no buying options or have inactive “Where to buy” buttons.
HMD Global, the company behind Nokia phones for nearly a decade, has confirmed it is “scaling back” operations in the United States.
“Like many global businesses, HMD is navigating a challenging geopolitical and economic environment,” the company said in a July 11 statement, per The Verge.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to scale back our US operations,” the statement read.
While the company didn’t directly mention tariffs or trade issues as a reason behind this shift, industry watchers believe that may be a driving factor.
The change means no new HMD or Nokia devices are being sold directly in the US, though some are still available through retailers like Amazon.
Even so, those listings are limited and not always updated.
HMD said it will continue to provide warranty coverage and service support for existing products, promising they will “continue to honor all obligations” to their customers as well as “provide full support through our global teams.”
The company declined to say whether any American workers were being laid off.
“We deeply value the contributions of our US colleagues impacted by this change and are committed to supporting them during this transition,” the statement continued.
Founded in 2016, HMD Global took over Nokia’s phone business from Microsoft, which had purchased the brand two years earlier.
The company went on to license the Nokia name and focused mainly on budget and midrange smartphones.
By 2023, HMD began pivoting away from the Nokia name, rolling out phones under its own brand.
Those new phones included the modular HMD Fusion and the repairable Skyline, the only Android phone supporting Qi2 wireless charging.
HMD Statement
“Like many global businesses, HMD is navigating a challenging geopolitical and economic environment. After careful consideration, we have made the decision to scale back our US operations.
“Our priority is ensuring a seamless transition for our customers and partners. We will continue to honor all obligations, including warranty coverage and service for existing products, and provide full support through our global teams.
“We deeply value the contributions of our US colleagues impacted by this change and are committed to supporting them during this transition.
“HMD remains focused on long-term growth, with strong momentum across our mainstream business and key segments such as Family, Secure, and Microfinancing.”
Source: The Verge
It also launched quirky collaborations like the Barbie flip phone in 2024 and the Heineken “Boring Phone” out the same year.
But in the US, only four HMD-branded smartphones ever hit the market.
No new models have launched since the HMD Fusion debuted in September 2024.
Nokia branded smartphones have since faded, with the name now mostly used on basic feature phones.
HMD said it remains focused on long-term global growth, despite backing away from the US.
It still sees opportunity in other markets and plans to keep pushing into categories like secure devices, family-friendly tech, and microfinancing.
But for now, American customers looking for a new Nokia phone may be out of luck.
HMD didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Founded in 2016, HMD Global took over Nokia’s phone business from Microsoft[/caption]
