Nokia to pull out of Japan

The world's largest mobile maker has decided to pull out of the largest market on the planet.

Nokia has announced it will stop manufacturing cell phones for NTT DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile.

Nokia executive vice president Timo Ihamuotila said in a statement that his outfit will continue producing its luxury Vertu brand, for now. But the current global economic climate, means that chucking money around investing in Japan-specific localised products is no longer a good idea.

While Nokia has 40 per cent of the worldwide market, Japan is tougher because its consumers want different things from the rest of the world. A nation which wants vending machines to dispense girls knickers installed in its hotels is always going to be a little tricky for company from Finland to understand.

Japan rejected Apple's Iphone 3G for not having enough gimmicks so you know a more serious technology company like Nokia is going to have trouble.

The market is saturated and the Japanese want third-generation networks that have TV broadcasting and electronic payment functions.

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