Microsoft promises to continue supporting Nokia hardware

Microsoft has opened up about its decision to phase out the Nokia branding one year after its acquisition of the Nordic phone maker.

The Windows firm's marketing chief Tuula Rytila described the branding shift towards Microsoft Lumia as a "natural progression" but promised existing Nokia phones will still be supported and sold.

"Microsoft continues to sell and support the Nokia Lumia phones that are out in the market, such as the recently announced Lumia 830 and Lumia 730," she said in a blog post.

"The Lumia promise that you've come to experience and love will remain. We will continue to honour customer warranties and provide world-class care services as before."

Last month, Nokia's UK website began redirecting customers to Microsoft's own Mobile Devices site amid reports that the branding will cease appearing on new hardware entirely by Christmas.

Microsoft acquired Nokia's device and services division last September in a deal worth £4.6 billion - this includes control of the nokia.com domain and all official social media channels for a minimum of one year.

Nokia's software arm, which Microsoft does not own, will continue to use the branding indefinitely.

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via All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News