Xplora and HMD Global Join Forces to Expand the Youth Phone Market

Norwegian company Xplora Technologies, known for its kid-friendly smartwatches, has announced a strategic partnership with Finnish HMD Global, aiming to expand its offerings into the youth and ageing population phone market. Xplora will be introducing basic phones and smartphones designed for young users, while HMD Global will handle the hardware development, storage, and distribution.

This partnership will allow Xplora to focus on its subscription services and leverage HMD Global’s experience in device production. Additionally, Xplora’s devices will be equipped with a family-friendly IoT platform, parental controls, and pre-installed SIM connections to ensure safe digital experiences for young users.

This collaboration aligns with HMD Global’s “The Better Phone” initiative, which promotes healthier smartphone usage among children. The first Xplora-HMD products are expected to debut at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in March 2025, showcasing an exciting new option for parents seeking safer digital devices for their kids.

Jean-Francois Baril said: “We are excited to join forces with Xplora to deliver tech solutions tailored to the unique needs of children and young people. At Human Mobile Devices, putting ‘human’ at the core of everything we do in in our DNA. Our teams oversee the complete development process, from software to hardware, ensuring top-tier quality, certification, and security. This allows us to foster a healthy and positive relationship with technology – providing all the essential feature, without any unnecessary distractions.”

Maybe this is a way towards that long-awaited Nokia, now HMD smartwatch… Who knows. For now, this is a classic HMD partnership deal like the rebranded Nokia C32 M-Kopa phone in Africa.

Source: Suomimobiili