HMD Global is the manufacturer behind the Nokia brand revival and has created a plethora of well-received Android smartphones ever since that Windows Phone bet didn't work out. With Nokia re-established, the company seems to be searching for the next frontier, and it looks like it wants to start an additional business as a mobile operator. An "HMD Connect" app has silently appeared on the Play Store, and judging from the description and the listing's images, the Finnish company wants to focus its effort on providing data-only plans to those who travel a lot internationally.

While many details, including exact pricing, are still up in the air, the first few words in the Play Store listing make the company's goals crystal-clear: "HMD Connect is your hassle-free data SIM for wherever you travel. Save up to 70% when roaming in over 120 countries." It further states that plans start at €9.95, though a look at the Play Store screenshots also reveals that a 1GB package can cost as much as €14.95. The prices probably vary a lot depending on where exactly you need internet. It's also possible the service includes a VPN, as the Play Store listing says, "Your data is always anonymous and more safe [sic]." It also reveals that the app will let you manage your packages, see how much data you've used, and order more than two SIM cards.

We can't find out much more about the service at the moment, though. When you install the app, you're asked to log in or order a SIM card from HMD Connect's website right away, but it isn't live yet. The app might come pre-installed on Nokia phones in the future, but since I could get it to work on my Pixel 3 without issues, the service is likely not exclusive to HMD devices — a "Car navigation" SIM card in the right screenshot above makes that even more probable. We also don't know where HMD will distribute and market its data plans. In the app listing, prices are only marked in euro, so it might be exclusive to Europeans in the beginning.

It's certainly possible that we'll learn more about the plan at HMD's Nokia event later today — the premature release of the app on the same day points to that, at least. You can tune into the livestream right here.

Feel free to check out the app on the Play Store yourself or download it over at APK Mirror, but as you know, you won't come much further than the login page.

HMD Connect
HMD Connect
Price: Free