Nokia Plans 2012 US Return, Hints At Windows 8 Tablet

In an interview with Bloomberg, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop revealed that the company plans to make a triumphant return in the US market starting early 2012. That means the lovely Nokia Lumia 800, which will be going on sale in Europe this month, won't be hitting the US until next year accompanied by a massive marketing campaign. Elop also hinted at the possibility of a Nokia Windows 8 tablet.

"Our intention is to come back in the United States and grow significant share in this market," said Elop. "Our plans are to be very competitive and to go head-on with the appropriate devices at the appropriate price points. We know we need to get volume moving and we need from that to develop economies of scale. And then as we do more and more differentiation, we expand gross margin."

Elop also didn't dismiss the possibility of entering the tablet market, which is a move that has been speculated on in the past. Back in May, Eldar Murtazin, an industry insider with a good track record for breaking Nokia news, claimed that the company has plans to introduce one Windows 8 tablet in 2012.

"There's a new tablet opportunity coming," said Elop. "We see the opportunity. Unquestionably, that will change the dynamics" of the tablet market.