Nokia has announced it is withdrawing from the Japanese mobile phone market.
The world's largest mobile phone maker blamed difficulties in expanding in the Japanese market, known for favouring home-grown technology, for its decision.
However, its upmarket niche Vertu phones will continue to be available in Japan.
Despite its global market share of nearly 40 percent, Nokia holds less than one per cent of Japan's mature wireless market as its products have failed to lure consumers from high-performance Japanese-made devices.
"We have judged that we cannot continue to invest in product development just for Japan amid the current tough economic conditions," Nokia executive vice president Timo Ihamuotila said in a statement.
