Nokia phones to go on sale in Boots outlets

Company also announces Preminet software solution for operators

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Nokia has made a new sales breakthrough, after signing a retailing agreement on the sale of handsets through the branches of the large British highstreet chemists chain Boots.
      Sales of Nokia phones will begin in 50 Boots outlets from mid-November. The British chain will be setting up special departments in its stores, concentrating on digital technology. In addition to phone handsets, there will be mini-printers for photos taken with camera-equipped mobiles.
     
Boots has of late been seen to be losing ground to the supermarkets, who have targeted the chain and are challenging it in some of its traditional areas.
      The company is looking to fight back by broadening its product assortment. Eyebrows were raised in Britain only a few days ago when Boots announced it was considering introducing sex toys and massage oils to its range, in an attempt to woo back female customers, the company’s core customer group.
     
For Finns, there is also a slight punning irony that a company such as Nokia should be involved. Until 20 years ago, the mobile phone and networks giant was well known as a manufacturer of...
      ...rubber boots.
     
On a more serious note, the Finnish company announced on Monday that they would be stepping up their trade in mobile content and applications to operators. Operators will be able to pick and choose the software they would like to see included in the phone handsets that they sell to their customers.
      These can be tailored according to the customer’s needs and whims, with games, utility applications, and even mp3-players installed in the phones. Nokia’s Preminet solution is seen as a means of helping both software developers and operators. The press release below details the venture.


Links:
  Nokia Preminet press release, 25.10.2004

Helsingin Sanomat