Oppo has also announced a strategic tie-up with the Telefónica group, hoping to strengthen its presence in the continent.
How Did the Challenges Begin for Oppo?
Back in 2021, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Oppo for infringing its 5G patents and using them even after the partnership between the two companies ended. Following this, a regional court imposed a sales ban on Oppo and its parent company OnePlus in Germany.
Oppo in response alleged Nokia of charging unreasonably high licensing fees and rejected Nokia’s offer of renewing its license. Following this, Oppo said it was working with all the involved parties to find a solution, as it had no intentions of exiting the market. Interestingly, BBK group’s other brands including OnePlus and Vivo, also faced similar situations.
Fast-forward to last month, Oppo and Nokia joined hands for good and signed a global patent cross-license agreement. “Under the agreement, Oppo will make royalty payments, along with catch-up payments to cover the periods of non-payment”, said Nokia. This mutual agreement lifted Oppo’s and OnePlus’ sales ban, allowing them to re-enter the European markets.
Telefónica Group to Assist Oppo in Regaining Lost Ground
Oppo has revealed that it is forming a strategic alliance with the Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica. The partnership could work in Oppo’s favor as the Telefónica group has a large presence in Europe. The 3-year alliance would help Oppo boost its sales in the continent, as it would also start selling its smartphone through carriers.
The Timeframe For Oppo’s Return
Oppo has not provided a clear timeline for its Europe comeback. It has, instead, stated that “Users from the markets that Oppo has been present will soon get Oppo’s innovative products.” This suggests that the brand is initially planning to return to the countries where it already had a presence before the ban.
Moreover, Oppo executives told GSMArena that it would return to Europe with the “upcoming generation of Find series.” This indicates that users in Europe would have to wait for Oppo’s upcoming launches, as its current lineup, including the recently launched Find X7 Ultra, might not be made available there.
Other Key Announcements From Oppo at the MWC 2024
Oppo is joining the likes of Samsung and Meizu, stating it is ‘going all-in on AI.’ The Chinese gadget maker showcased the prototype of its upcoming AR glasses, the Air Glass 3. Thanks to AI, it can understand a wide variety of data, including text, images, audio, and video. The smart AR glasses come with touch support and an AI voice assistant.
Besides, Oppo is bringing generative AI features to its smartphones, starting with the Reno11 series and the Find N3. AI seems to have taken over the smartphone space too, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds.
