Nokia, previously the worldwide smartphone leader, has lost market share from the likes of Samsung and Apple, but it turns out the Finnish handset maker is not quite on its death bed yet. Nokia reported that it sold a better-than-expected 4.4 million Lumia phones in the fourth quarter, exceeding sales of the Windows phones in the two preceding quarters. In all, Nokia sold a total of 15.9 millions smartphones, which also include 9.3 million Asha full-touch phones and 2.2 million Symbian models. With the robust results during the holiday season, Nokia has upgraded its expected operating margins in the fourth quarter to be between a break even and positive 2% from the negative 6% (plus-minus 4 percentage points) in the originally forecast. Nokia though is seeing the first three months of the year as a seasonally weak quarter.
What Else You Need To Know
- This is the first time Windows phones outsold Symbian models.
- To recall, Nokia announced in February 2011 a key agreement with Microsoft to use Windows as Nokia's primary OS, demoting the Symbian, the most popular OS before Android devices flooded the market.
- Nokia's decision to lump the Asha into the smartphone category is raising some eyebrows as the low-cost Asha is considred by industry research houses as a feature phone, although the device does have advance e-mail features, popular apps and games.
- Notwithstanding the better-than-expected results, the Finnish giant admitted that sales of its flagship device, the Lumia 920, have been limited by shortages due to cautious ordering and inadequate supplies of components.
- During the fourth quarter, Nokia sold a total of 86.3 million handsets, which include 70.4 million feature phones.
Other sources
We’re not talking the glory days of old, but bear in mind that the third quarter of last year saw the division shed an unholy €683 million ($895 million).- GigaOM, David Meyer
Nokia’s share price has plunged over the past three days due to rumors about a cheap iPhone from Apple. Now, Nokia’s stock price shot up 14% in Helsinki after the new comments from the company came out.- Tero Kuittinen, BGR
- Mobile Tech News
- Nokia exceeds previous Q4 2012 outlook for Devices & Services and Nokia Siemens Networks
- The Next Web
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Nokia sold 4.4 million Lumia smartphones in ‘solid’ Q4 2012; results ‘exceeded expectations’
Not to kick in an open door, but Q4 2012 included the end-of-year holiday season, making it traditionally stronger than other quarters.
- Mobile Crunch
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A Bright Spot For Nokia As Lumia And Other Q4 Mobile Sales “Exceeded Expectations”, With 4.4M Lumias Sold, But Q1 May Bring More Woe
This is significant in that it is a big change from previous quarters, where Nokia has had to warn the market that it wouldn’t be meeting original forecasts.
- WM Power User
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Nokia Profitable with 4.4 million Lumia sales in Q4 2012, finally exceed Symbian sales
While the company became profitable last quarter they do not expect it to continue into Q1 2013 due to seasonality of smartphone sales, but hopefully the “better than expected” performance can continue.
- BGR
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Nokia sold 14 million smartphones in Q4… if you reclassify Asha phones
Nokia is arguing that since you can now have fairly advanced email features, popular apps and games in Asha phones, they actually are smartphones.
- Engadget
- Nokia says Lumia smartphones did 'better than expected' last quarter, 4.4 million units sold
- Dialed In
- Surprise, surprise: Nokia's Q4 rides high on Lumia sales
- Geeky Gadgets
- Nokia Sells 4.4 Million Lumia Windows Phone Handsets In Quarter 4 2012
- PhoneDog
- Nokia: Lumia delivered better than expected Q4 2012 results with sales of 4.4 million units
- Softpedia
- Nokia Sold 4.4 Million Lumia Handsets in Q4 2012, 9.3 Million Asha Phones
- More...