Nokia reduces R&D operations in Japan, cuts 220 jobs
Nokia said it made the R&D adjustments to align its operations with the company's focused portfolio of future products.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- EDN, November 24, 2009
Nokia today announced it will be reducing its R&D activities in Japan, cutting approximately 220 jobs in the process.
The move follows plans announced by Nokia last week to reduce some of the company's R&D activities in Finland and Denmark.
The 220 jobs represent slightly more than 1% of Nokia's R&D personnel globally. Last week's R&D change announcement impacted 330 jobs at the two locations, or about 2% of Nokia's R&D personnel globally.
Nokia said it made the R&D adjustments to align its operations with the company's focused portfolio of future products.
Nokia remains the number one handset maker with a 36.7% share of the mobile terminal market as of Q3, but the company has not been immune to the turbulence of 2009. According to Gartner, Nokia's market share fell 1.5% year over year in part due to component shortages that may continue into Q4. Nokia also faces increasing competition in the smartphone market. Its share there dropped from 42.3% in Q3 2008 to 39% in Q3, as companies including Apple, Research In Motion, and Samsung showed gains, according to Gartner data.
Nokia said in its statement today that it will continue its significant sourcing activities in Japan.
The Japanese operation of Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia's network infrastructure business, is not affected by the announcement and continues uninterrupted, the company said. Vertu, Nokia's exclusive line of handcrafted mobile phones for the luxury market, will also continue operations in Japan, unaffected by today's announcement.
