By Today is the first day of Nokia World 2011 the event taking place in London for two days. The Finnish company has showcased the smartphones in the Lumia lineup and has also introduced a range of low-end phones that are part of Nokia’s Asha range.
The 4 phones in the Asha lineup stand somewhere between feature phones and smartphones. The Finland-based company has tried to give these feature phones some of the smartphones’ features. Therefore this combination resulted in phones that provide users with great social experience, stylish and classy design, location-aware technology, QWERTY and touchscreen experience, fast Internet access, apps from Nokia Store and integrated social networking.
Stephen Elop, Nokia’s CEO tried to describe the company’s intentions and mobile products by saying that:
“Eight months ago, we shared our new strategy and today we are demonstrating clear progress of this strategy in action. We’re driving innovation throughout our entire portfolio, from new smartphone experiences to ever smarter mobile phones. From the Nokia Lumia 800 to the Nokia Asha 201, we are bringing compelling new products to the market faster than ever before. I’m incredibly proud of these new devices – and the people of Nokia who have made this happen.”
The Asha mobile phones include 4 handsets: Nokia Asha 303, Asha 300, Asha 201 and Asha 200.
Nokia Asha 303
Coming with a 2.6″ capacitive touch screen, Asha 303 features a high quality QWERTY keypad. Metallic finishes and sophisticated materials have been used for this phone’s design. Asha 303 sports a 1Ghz engine, WLAN as well as 3G. This only makes the Internet experience faster to which the Cloud-based Nokia Browser contributes as well.
The IM, social networks as well as the email can be easily accessed from the homescreen. Asha 303 will come pre-loaded with Angry Birds and will support apps like Facebook Chat, Whatsapp and the company’s latest release of Nokia Maps for Series 4.
The phone will be available for around 115 EUR (price that doesn’t include taxes or subsidies) shipments beginning in the the last quarter of this year.
Nokia Asha 300
This Asha phone packs a powerful 1GHz processor and a 5MP camera. The handset has been created with fast Internet and great social network experience in mind. The 3G and the Nokia Browser deliver fast Internet. Similar in many ways to Asha 303, the device comes pre-loaded with Angry Birds and the homescreen will give users fast access to IM and email.
Other features of the phone include Bluetooth connectivity, a music player and FM radio. Asha 300 handles cards up to 32GB. Shipments will start in the last months of 2011 and users will be able to get the phone for around 85 EUR.
Nokia Asha 200
If you’re into dual SIM phones, then Asha 200 is just perfect. Nokia Asha 200 will allow users to change the second SIM without turnning off the device. The phone seems to be intended for young consumers who want to stay in touch with their friends ceaselessly.
Nokia Asha 200 comes with Orkut, RenRen and Flickr support, IM and integrated social networking. Since the phone supports 32 GB memory card, users will be able to carry lots of their favorite songs. There’s a battery that provides 52-hour playback time.
The estimated price for Nokia Asha 200 is 60 EUR and the phone will ship at the same time with the other two Asha devices.
Nokia Asha 201
Nokia Asha 201 is the single SIM version of the previous phone mentioned, Nokia Asha 200. The phone addresses to consumers who like listening to music and that’s why it comes with a high performing loudspeaker as well as with enhanced stereo FM radio.
Like the other Asha phones, this one will provide better and faster Internet access. Offering a battery for 52 hours of music playback time, Asha 201 supports up to 32 GB memory cards, push email and Whatsapp messaging app. The device is estimated to be available for 60 EUR (price that doesn’t include taxes and subsidies) and unlike the other devices in the Asha range, this will start shipping in the first quarter of 2012.
