In a statement issued on the company website Saturday, Nokia reiterated that it has made no plans of re-entering the market.
"Nokia notes recent news reports claiming the company communicated an intention to manufacture consumer handsets out of a R&D facility in China. These reports are false, and include comments incorrectly attributed to a Nokia Networks executive."
"Nokia reiterates it currently has no plans to manufacture or sell consumer handsets."
Last year, Microsoft bought Nokia with an agreement that it will not be doing any phone business at least before 2016. The company, however, has expressed that it is looking into other alternatives in the smartphone business through brand-licensing. After its sale with Microsoft, the Finnish brand actually launched a tablet computer under Foxconn of Taiwan, and more devices are expected to follow.
Recently, Nokia partnered with France's Alcatel-Lucent and bought the company for $16.6 billion in a bid to remain one of Europe's formidable tech giants. It is currently seeking to boost its map business as well, with companies like Uber and Facebook drawing interest in its services.
Last week, news of Nokia's return to the phone market was covered in detail by Re/Code, saying that the company may rejoin as early as next year based on what was revealed by its two sources.
"They have a lot of great stuff in development. It gave me complete confidence that Nokia is a company that is not going away," said Richard Kerris, a former Nokia executive and consultant.
The developments are apparently spearheaded by Nokia Technologies, which remains with the company after the Microsoft deal. The office has four operating sites: Sunnyvale in California, Cambridge in England and Espoo and Tampere in Finland.
