HMD Announced as Official Global Mobile Phone Partner of FC Barcelona
Nairobi, Kenya – Thursday, 22nd August: Human Mobile Devices (HMD), European mobile phone innovator known for its unique approach to technology has announced a new and exciting partnership with FC Barcelona, one of the world’s most iconic football clubs, adding to a series of high-profile collaborations for the club.
The announcement was made through a creative reveal video shared on the official social media channels of both HMD and FC Barcelona. In the video, Saul Peregrina, the hairdresser of FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, skillfully shaves the club’s legendary crest alongside the HMD logo into the back of Yamal’s head, symbolizing the three-year partnership. The video also offers a first look at the new HMD Skyline smartphone in Blue Topaz, showcasing the brand’s commitment to innovation and style. The intricate hairstyle took two hours to complete, highlighting the attention to detail that both HMD and FC Barcelona are known for.
This partnership showcases HMD’s commitment to standing out in the crowded mobile phone market by aligning with a global sports giant like FC Barcelona, as demonstrated by the viral TikTok video where star hairdresser Saul Peregrina crafted a stunning piece of shaved art featuring both brands’ logos on fan Iñigo, following his 7.5 million-view haircut for Lamine Yamal.
The initial three-year deal, which sees HMD become a Global Partner of FC Barcelona and Official Mobile Phone Partner of FC Barcelona, is designed to raise awareness of Human Mobile Devices – a company not yet 10 years-old but already Europe’s largest manufacturer of smartphones – primarily through digital advertising opportunities at the Olympic Stadium and then at the Spotify Camp Nou when it reopens later in the season. The partnership between the two brands extends beyond football as it will cover the FC Barcelona basketball, futsal, handball and roller hockey teams too.
Commenting on the announcement of the partnership, Lars Silberbauer, Global Chief Marketing Officer at HMD, said; “When it comes to creativity and innovation in sport you simply cannot look past FC Barcelona. The club has always championed fresh thinking, beauty, and flair, and we have the same mindset when it comes to technology. And just like FC Barcelona brings people together – it’s more than a club obviously – we’re the same. Every device we make is designed to enhance people’s lives and build connectivity. I’ve been a FC Barcelona fan for a long time, ever since Michael Laudrup joined the club back in 1989. I’m still a fan and pleased to announce HMD as a supporter too. We can’t wait to work with the club, and the culers, to do some amazing things together.”
Juli Guiu, vice-president of the FC Barcelona Marketing Area, comments: “We are very proud to take a new step forward in our commercial strategy by incorporating the HMD company as a new Global Partner. We feel very aligned with them in terms of brand values because theirs is an honest, transparent vision of technology that makes a priority of waste disposal and responsible use, with special consideration for the welfare of future generations. HMD and Barça are, from now on, two brands that go hand in hand from the present but looking to the future.”
HMD Skyline in Blue Topaz – a new era of smartphone design that you can repair at home
HMD is known for its human-first, innovative and fun-packed devices; from creating dumbphones to give people a digital break, to unveiling beautiful repairable smartphones including HMD Skyline – a 5G1 smartphone now in an all-new Blue Topaz colour that stars in the FC Barcelona reveal.
The HMD Skyline was released worldwide on July 18th in Neon Pink and Twisted Black and is now available in Blue Topaz. HMD Skyline is a premium handset that has been developed for the creators. It has a 108 MP camera and 50 MP selfie camera, great for capturing epic shots. It merges remarkable functionality with unrivalled repairability2 and cutting-edge design.
The new blue version, available from hmd.com from today, comes with new Detox Mode later this year to keep the notifications at bay during game time. The new Detox Mode will allow users to disable all social media platforms and applications and stop scrolling.
