Samsung’s loss is Nokia’s gain after Apple win
NOKIA shares hit their highest point in more than four months yesterday on suggestions the Finnish phone manufacturer could be the biggest winner from Apple’s court victory over Samsung last week, while the Korean firm’s value plummeted.
Analysts said that Nokia – which teamed up with Microsoft last year to launch a range of handsets running the Windows Phone software – could benefit from being one of the few companies to make phones not running Google’s Android operating system, with the ruling having wider implications for the mobile phone industry.
Apple said yesterday it is seeking bans on eight models of Samsung’s smartphones, including its Galaxy S devices, and may take action against other Android makers.
A California court ordered Samsung to pay over $1bn (£630m) to Apple on Friday after the Korean firm was found to have infringed a number of patents for technology used in the iPhone.
Samsung shares fell 7.5 per cent in trading in Seoul yesterday, wiping £7.6bn off the firm’s value.
Google broke its silence on the ruling yesterday in an attempt to reassure handset makers. “Most of [Apple’s claims] don’t relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office,” the web giant said.
But with the prospect of US bans on some products from Samsung – Android’s most successful partner – and further lawsuits, Nokia, which has seen its market share obliterated by Apple and Samsung, could gain.
“As Android and Apple tear each other apart, Microsoft has been waiting in the wings and is in a very good position to move in and entice users to switch from Android to Microsoft,” said Nomura’s Richard Windsor.