HMD Global Gets 500 Nokia Design Patents From Microsoft, Including 'Lumia Camera UI'

[captain_to_fire]

If you want further proof that Microsoft is done with their mobile division, how about giving away 500 patents relating to mobile?

 

Source: Gadgets 360, Nokiamob

HIGHLIGHTS

• HMD Global has received 500 Nokia design patents
• The patents were received from Microsoft, earlier owner of the rights
• HMD Global may integrate Lumia Camera UI on future Nokia phones

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According to a new document from European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), HMD Global has received 500 Nokia design patents from its previous owner. Microsoft Mobile Oy, which previously owned the Nokia patents, has transferred them to HMD Global, which now has exclusive rights to Nokia phones and tablets. The 500 Nokia design patents also include Lumia Camera UI patent hinting that we may see the interface on future Nokia-branded handsets. Notably, Microsoft still has roughly 200 Nokia design with itself based on latest document by EUIPO incluidng PureView, ClearBlack, and PureMotion.

 

Nokia brand licensee HMD Global has lately been focusing a lot on the camera for its upcoming Nokia-branded phones. The Lumia Camera UI could be another star in its armory after HMD Global announced strategic partnership with Zeiss. The recent partnership with Zeiss will most likely boost the imaging experience on future Nokia smartphones.

So yeah, Microsoft is just keeping those ten existing Windows 10 Mobile users on an extended support for security patches and they gave up the patents especially the ones for the camera to HMD, and after that, Microsoft is done with Windows 10 Mobile. While I don't think Nokia will make a huge comeback like take over existing Samsung users, as long as they play their cards right this time, I can see a steady growth. The Nokia Lumia line was know for their smartphone cameras (too bad they're all  Windows Phones):

• Nokia Lumia 920 - first smartphone to introduce optical image stabilization for improved low light shots and smoother video recording (although with jello effect) 
• Nokia Lumia Icon/930 - phone with HRD audio recording for video 
• Nokia Lumia 1020 - a smartphone with a behemoth 41 megapixel sensor for improved digital zoom and pixel oversampling for 5 megapixel photos 

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This is great news for all Nokia fans, because now a part of Nokia legacy, that was bought by Microsoft, returned back to Finland to HMD Global. These transferred designs are probably a part of the mobile Business that Microsoft sold to FIH Mobile last year for about $350 million. The only thing missing now are the famous trademarks.

You can check all HMD’s IP registered at EUIPO here.

Unfortunately, both Nokia and Microsoft think that a good smartphone camera is all they need to have more customers. Little do they know, both Apple and Android OEMs have stepped up their games when it came to smartphone cameras and many of these features that Nokia is so proud of is already found in modern flagship phones. This is evident with the Galaxy S6/S6 Edge and the LG G4 which are very well received for their cameras. But then again, I have to keep my expectations low when it comes to smartphone cameras with one simple truth: a smartphone camera won't be as good as a DSLR with full frame sensor. So I'll keep an eye on whatever Nokia does with their Android phones and they might steal some limelight from the struggling Essential Phone. With that said, I think it's a hit in the nail message to all Windows Phone fans that Microsoft is NOT making a mythical "Surface Phone". 

[Sousuke]

This must be part of some sort of deal, maybe a future Windows Phone made by Nokia?

[captain_to_fire]

1 minute ago, Sousuke said:

This must be part of some sort of deal, maybe a future Windows Phone made by Nokia?

Microsoft is actually not updating existing W10M phones to Creators Update. All they're receiving from now on are security patches kinda like Windows 7. Also, I don't think HMD/Nokia is dumb to even reconsider an OS with very little developer support. I know that there's a bridge tool to port apps from iOS/Android to Windows Phone but that is kinda problematic too because of APIs that aren't compatible. 

 

[dizmo]

I think you're totally off base with your assumption that all Nokia cares about is the camera. Their phones have often had the highest level of build quality, and even before Microsoft they were making excellent cameracentric phones. The Nokia 808 Pureview, for example. They've also been releasing devices now with very close to stock Android operating systems, which is another thing most users seem to desire.

 

Interestingly enough, it might not be too long before a purposely designed phone with multiple camera modules can perform as well as an APS-C DSLR. The Light L16 has proven that.

 

Personally I don't find this news overly interesting. Camera UI's are easily redesigned, and can often be improved upon. It's also entirely possible that they didn't need any of the patents they sold for an upcoming Surface Phone.

[Evolution90]

Moved from Nokia to Samsung with Android, i have 200 installed viruses and could not be happier.

[vanished]

The patent for that interface is worthless... I mean, it would have to be a desirable, good design for it to have value, wouldn't it?