HMD Global Banned From Selling Nokia Phones in Germany and Switzerland

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 25 February 2022, 08:02 am

HMB Global, the tech company behind the production of Nokia phones, was banned from selling the said phones in Germany and Switzerland.

Aside from the ban, the company's inventory of phones is facing major issues in other countries across Europe. From Nokia G21 to Nokia G11, all Nokia smartphones are currently out of stock on HMB Global's website.

Nokia Phones Banned in Germany and Switzerland

From what is seen on the company's website, Nokia phones have disappeared from several countries across Europe. These include major markets like Spain, France, Italy, and Finland, according to Android Authority.

The only Nokia phone available in these countries right now is the Nokia G21. Meanwhile, the Nikon X20, X10, and other Nokia phone models can still be bought in the United Kingdom.

The ban and the limited distribution of Nokia phones is the effect of VoiceAgeEVS LLC's lawsuit against HMD Global over its use of Enhanced Voice Services or EVS, according to Gizbot.

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The audio coding standard is used with VoLTE, like when making calls over the LTE mobile network. The lawsuit states that HMD does not have the license to use the technology for Nokia smartphones.

While the tech company has not said anything about how long the unavailability will last, it shared a statement with several German outlets.

The statement reads that HMD is a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed by VoiceAgeEVS LLC or VAEVS in several jurisdictions, including Germany.

HMD expressed their disappointment with completing the VoiceAge enforcement proceedings in Germany in December 2021 and have lodged a complaint.

In the meantime, the tech company has ensured that none of the phones offered and distributed in Germany support EVS.

Nokia G11 Launch

Despite the ban in Europe, HMD still pushed for the launch of the new Nokia model, the G11. The phone made its debut without a formal announcement, and it was just added to the company's website, according to GSMArena.

The Nokia G11 promises longer battery life and two OS updates. The phone has most of the hardware that the Nokia G21 has, but it comes with a downgraded main camera and a lighter body.

The phone also has the Unisoc T60 chipset but downgrades it to 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The G11 has a micro SD slot for 512GB storage.

The three cameras on the back have a 13MP main snapper and a couple of 2MP shooters for macro and depth. The 8MP selfie shooter is on a waterdrop notch.

The G11 has a 6.5" LCD with HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 180Hz touch rate. The highlight feature, a 5,050 mAh battery with 18W charging support, can give the phone longer battery life.

However, the adapter included in the box is 10W, so you will need to get your own adapter if you wish to use the maximal charging speeds.

Nokia G11 comes with a handset, and it has a 3-year security update and two major OS updates. The phone costs €159 or $180 and it is available in two colors, Ice Blue and Charcoal Gray.

During the CES 2022, it was revealed that Nokia would release five more models within the next few months.