Nokia may revive its brand name in consumer markets after selling off its former flagship mobile phones business to Microsoft. "I think you can expect our brand will return to the consumer world," Nokia's chief executive Rajeev Suri said on Friday when asked about rumors that the networks equipment maker was looking to re-enter the handset market.

"We see brand licensing as an opportunity ... But I would say it is more of a long-term opportunity," Suri said of potential deals where other makers of consumer electronics might pay Nokia to use its brand on their products.

Another company executive on Friday pointed to Porsche Design as an example of the sort of brand-licensing deals Nokia might consider.

Microsoft has devided to drop the Nokia name on its latest Lumia 535 smartphone, having acquired the Nokia business back in April.