Could it be an iPhone beater? Nokia set to release a new smartphone in 2017

Despite selling up to Microsoft in 2014, Nokia has announced that 2017 will see them make a return to the mobile phone market.

The Finnish company sold their device business to the computer giant two years ago but they are set to launch a range of smartphones in the first half of next year.

Rajeev Suri, Nokia’s chief executive, will make a keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress in February, where the company are expected to reveal their new tech.

Microsoft blocked Nokia from manufacturing phones with its name on until 2015 as part of the sale, when the company said it would only consider re-entering the market “if and when we find a world class partner” to take care of manufacturing, sales, marketing and consumer support.

Nokia has now partnered up with fellow Finnish company HMD to pump some £430m on marketing the as-yet-unnamed phones over the next three years.

The company has not revealed any details about their new smartphones, although they are expected to use Google’s Android operating system.

Top pic: Flickr