Despite the grand acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft in 2013, there were strong rumours flying around about Nokia’s disappearance. However, the close of 2016 saw something truly magical happening. Different companies around the world were rooting for a comeback by Nokia. With almost all the acquisition money down the drain and over 500 employees being laid off, Microsoft selling Nokia to HMD Global didn’t come as a surprise.
Why Nokia failed in the past
There were several reasons as to why Nokia wasn’t at the top between the years 2013 and 2016. Firstly, the world started thinking of Nokia phones as ancient products, without a modern touch. Secondly, Nokia just failed to catch up to the smartphone revolution and stalled in terms of producing innovative phones. Third, the Nokia and Microsoft acquisition just wasn’t working the way it was supposed to, a move which resulted in the complete stagnation of Nokia’s growth.
When HMD Global decided to remake Nokia into a world superpower, there was one goal: to imagine Nokia as the leader not just now, but in the year 2020 as well! The iconic Mobile World Congress conference in 2016, saw HMD position Nokia not just among the top three brands, but at the top of the chain by promising a series of new and innovative phones. Shortly after, the Company launched the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. Not only did they launch these three new phones, Nokia also launched the improved and refurbished version of the Nokia 3310. The launch of the Nokia 3310 in the form of a smartphone was a welcome addition because back in the good old days, this was one of the most widely used Nokia phones.
Picture credits: Quora.com
The journey to a bright future
While the new phones and tablets may have been the start of Nokia’s rise from the ashes, it was the marketing strategy employed by HMD which put the Company back on the map. With over 400 distributors present in more than 300 cities across the world, HMD made sure Nokia surpassed all its competition and almost regained its former glory.
Picture credits: Quikr.com
However, despite selling more than 4.4 million phones in the last quarter of 2018, the Company still struggled to stay afloat. While the Nokia 8 was like rain on a drought filled day, it wasn’t enough to satiate everyone’s growing hunger. The answer to the growing need for innovation? The Nokia 9! Two years after being bought by HMD Global, Nokia made not one, but several strategic changes like onboarding new distributors, changing its marketing game and making phones which were easily affordable by everyone!
With a series of phones which aren’t just affordable, but also infused with innovation and technology, Nokia has already managed to beat one of its primary competitors: HTC! With the Nokia 9 coming out soon, it is going to be interesting to see where the future of this Company lies!
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service
Nazara Technologies has sold its entire 71.54% stake in Sports Unity Private Limited, the company behind the multiplayer quiz game ‘Qunami’, for INR 7.15 lakh. This divestment, effective March 25, 2025, signifies a strategic shift for Nazara, which had previously acquired a controlling interest in Sports Unity in 2019 for INR 7.5 crore.
The decision to offload the stake comes as Sports Unity has faced financial difficulties, reporting no active business operations and a negative net worth of INR 0.45 crore at the end of FY24. This move aligns with Nazara’s broader strategy to streamline its operations and concentrate on more profitable ventures within the gaming sector.
This sale follows Nazara’s recent divestment of a 94.85% stake in another subsidiary, Open Play, to Moonshine Technologies for INR 104.33 crore. Despite reporting record quarterly revenue of INR 544.7 crore in Q3 FY25, Nazara experienced a 53.5% decline in net profit year-over-year.
Nazara continues to focus on enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and investments in high-potential gaming platforms while navigating the competitive landscape of the gaming industry.