Nokia Increases UK Handset Market Share

Nokia has seen its share of the UK PrePay handset market jump after the company introduced a SIM-lock onto its handsets. UK operators were increasingly reluctant to offer Nokia handsets on their PrePay tariffs as there is a market in "box breaking" and reselling the subsidised handsets at a profit overseas. Low-cost Nokia handsets are particularly popular in developing nations.

Nokia UK MD Simon Ainslie told UK trade magazine, Mobile Today: "Two years ago, we were hit quite hard by box breakers. As a result, people [operators] weren't buying our products because they were being shipped abroad."

The company says that so far, the SIM-Locking system has not been hacked, making the phones useless if sold overseas.

On the web: Mobile Today

Posted to the site on 3rd January 2008