Mobile phone maker Nokia has not had the best of years as the Finland-based company has seen its once massive market share diminish thanks to the rise of sales for Android and iPhone based phone. So its not exactly a shock to learn that Nokia is trying to save some money and also sell off some of its units. Engadget reports that Nokia has now shut down its online stores in both the US and the UK. It previously closed its online stores for other European countries in May. US Nokia web site visitors are now redirected to Amazon.com to purchase Nokia based phones
In addition, Engadget reports that Nokia has closed nearly all of its brick-and-mortar retail stores in the UK. The one exception, at least for now, is Nokia"s storefront located at London"s Heathrow Airport. According to an unnamed and now former Nokia UK retail store employee "poor marketing, high prices, slowing traffic and a high product return rate" were just part of the reasons while the stores were closed.
In addition to the online and real world store closings, AllThingsDigital reports that Nokia has sold off one of its business units to the UK based Synchronica. The Nokia unit provided "e-mail, instant messaging and other software for cellular carriers." Synchronica takes over the operations of the unit along with acquiring the rights to a number of Nokia"s patents. The deal is expected to close sometime in the third quarter but the specific financial details were not revealed.