HMD partners with Mattel to launch Barbie flip phone this July 2024

Photo: HMD

HMD, the company behind Nokia phones for the last seven years, hopes to repeat its success with a new partner: Mattel. The two companies are teaming up to launch a Barbie flip phone this July, a retro feature phone that promises style, nostalgia, and a digital detox. The Barbie phone is part of HMD’s summer lineup, which also includes a new retro-inspired Nokia phone and an HMD phone. The latter is similar to the leaked device that 91Mobiles reported last month, with an HMD logo replacing the Nokia one.

The Barbie phone is not just a rebranded Nokia phone. According to HMD’s global head of insight, proposition, and product marketing Adam Ferguson, it will be a completely new device. "Barbie’s is not the kind of brand that you go, here's an off-the-shelf solution," he says. He also hints that more big and prestigious partnerships are in the works, but he won't reveal them yet.

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Air Canada partners with Mattel to offer exclusive kids’ shows on board

Air Canada introduced fresh new features to enhance its products and services. One of its newest changes comes about through a partnership with Mattel. The airline will be the only Canadian airline to offer shows like Barbie Dreamtopia, Thomas & Friends, and Polly Pocket for its young travellers. These shows and movies will add dozens of hours of fun and engaging kids’ content to Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment library. Air Canada is also working on adding more new content partners soon, so stay tuned for more exciting updates.

Mattel makes free ‘Uno’ mobile game available everywhere

While it launched earlier in some locations, Mattel, has finally introduced its free Uno game worldwide. With the help of NetEase and through its Mattel163 studio, the card game is now available for free through App Store and Google Play. It’ll let you play tournaments, go on 2v2 mode, set up games using custom rules, or try out daily quests. There’s a Valentine’s-themed one coming out next month. According to Mattel163, there are already 45 million people who have played Uno through Facebook Instant Games and the apps so far.

Source: Engadget

Is Hasbro planning to buy Mattel?

This might not seem to be the right space to talk about this a few years back but with gadgets and even connected toys taking up more and more of the attention of children, this doesn’t seem too off tangent. A new report from the Wall Street Journal claims Hasbro recently made an offer to purchase Mattel. It wasn’t said how receptive Mattel was to the idea or how much Hasbro offered but the move would put two hot properties side by side: My Little Pony and Hot Wheels. A merger of the two companies might help both sides. Hasbro, who has been taking advantage of the popularity of its Disney-themed toys as well as licenses from TV and movie deals, can help out Mattel, who is trying to turn around years of failed toy lines.

The acquisition will also give Hasbro access to Mattel’s manufacturing facilities. The former gave up its own facilities a while back. On top of that, Mattel could contribute to building up Hasbro’s tech-driven toys, which they need to develop more of now as they compete with top tech companies for the younger audience. Of course, this might raise concerns about how this could violate US antitrust law but whether this will draw as big a scrutiny and opposition as telecom mergers is something we can’t say yet. Both parties refuse to comment about the rumours.

Source: Engadget