Nokia announces deal with Zeiss to create ‘new imaging standards’ for smartphones
The two companies will collaborate on camera hardware, as well as software and services around imaging.
Future Nokia smartphones will feature imaging technology from optical giant Zeiss aimed at creating “new imaging standards” for smartphones, the two companies have announced.
The deal with German imaging firm Zeiss will see the optical specialists work on the camera hardware and software of future Nokia smartphones, as well as services and screen quality technology.
HMD Global chief executive Arto Nummela said the company hoped to provide a better photography “experience” as a result of the new imaging partnership.
“Collaborating with Zeiss is an important part of our commitment to always deliver the very best experience for our customers,” he said.
“Our fans want more than a great smartphone camera, they want a complete imaging experience that doesn’t just set the standard but redefines it.
The two companies previously worked together on Nokia’s feature phones in the 2000s – including the N90, the first multi-megapixel camera phone, which launched in 2005.
Other smartphone brands have also turned to camera and imaging experts, with Huawei unveiling a partnership with German camera giant Leica in 2016.
The announcement follows Nokia’s confirmation of the release of their first three smartphones since their return – the Nokia 3, 5, and 6 – which will begin this month.
All three devices are priced at less than £250 as the firm looks to obtain market share in the mid-range smartphone space.
HMD’s chief marketing officer Pekka Rantala also suggested Nokia was exploring augmented reality (AR) technology, calling the mix of real and virtual images the current “big thing” in the tech industry.
Apple is also a known admirer of the visual technology and recently announced a software kit to build AR apps will be made available to developers in the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS.
