Nokia, the world's largest handset maker, had decided to withdraw from the huge Japanese cellular market, following five years of attempted gains at market share.
The company will stop developing handsets for NTT DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile, and effectively remove itself from the entire market.
Thomas Jonsson, a company spokesman, said the current global economic downturn led to the withdrawal. Jonsson said lower demand led to the company rethinking its priorities, and noting that Japan was no longer a top priority.
"We've not reached our own internal targets over a sustained period," added Jonsson.
Nokia did say they would keep an R&D center open in Japan and "continue its procurement activities" in the region.
Thomas Jonsson, a company spokesman, said the current global economic downturn led to the withdrawal. Jonsson said lower demand led to the company rethinking its priorities, and noting that Japan was no longer a top priority.
"We've not reached our own internal targets over a sustained period," added Jonsson.
Nokia did say they would keep an R&D center open in Japan and "continue its procurement activities" in the region.
