Nokia plans mobile phone re-entry 2016

Finnish telecoms network maker Nokia confirmed it might start designing and licensing mobile phone handsets under its brand name in 2016.

In a statement late Monday night in Helsinki, Nokia said it was looking for a partner that would take on the manufacturing, sales, marketing and customer support for the products.

The company said a Nokia mobile phone would not reach the market before the fourth quarter of 2016 when Nokia’s agreement with partner Microsoft would allow it to use the brand name again.

Nokia sold its phone business to Microsoft in 2014 after years of declining sales.