News

Comeback kid: Nokia lifted as Lumia sales jump 200%

Windows Phone brand enjoys record third quarter

Comeback kid: Nokia lifted as Lumia sales jump 200%

Ahead of its planned sale to Microsoft in 2014, Nokia's (NYSE: NOK) Windows Phone-powered Lumia range has enjoyed its strongest quarter to date, with sales up more than 200 percent year-on-year.

The company claims volumes of Lumia handsets hit 8.8 million across Q3 2012, up from the 7.4 million units it sold during the previous quarter.

More impressively, however, the figure represents a major jump over the 2.9 million Lumia handsets it shipped to retail during the same period in 2012.

However, the Lumia range still remains some distance behind market leader iPhone, with Apple having sold 33.8 million handsets during its most recent quarter.

Lumia love

Though much focused has been placed on Nokia's high-end smartphones – the 41MP Lumia 1020 the company's most recent flagship – it's the budget Lumia 520 that's reportedly making the biggest waves, with Nokia singling the device out in its latest interim report.

Lumia 520

In all, Nokia's mobile phone volumes came in at 55.8 million units across the quarter – up 4 percent quarter-on-quarter, but down from the 77 million units shipped during the same period in 2012, namely due to the Finnish firm's continued transition to its Lumia and Asha ranges.

"The third quarter was among the most transformative in our company's history," detailed CFO and interim president Timo Ihamuotila.

"We became the full owner of NSN (Nokia Solutions and Networks) and we agreed on the sale of our handset operations to Microsoft, transactions which we believe will radically reshape the future of Nokia for the better.

"Subject to the completion of the Microsoft transaction, Nokia will have significantly improved earnings profile, strong financial position and a solid foundation from which to invest."

[source: Nokia]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.