Seemingly intent on stretching its already industry-leading reach to every corner of the planet, mobile phone company Nokia has revealed it is to accelerate that leadership through the integration of four new handsets into emerging markets.
Nokia Corp. unveils four new handsets for emerging markets including the Nokia 5000 and Nokia 1680 Classic (pictured). Credit: Nokia.
Announced at the Growing Together 2008 conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nokia’s diverse and cheaply priced quartet of phones are the Nokia 5000, the Nokia 2680 Slide, Nokia 7070 Prism and the Nokia 1680 Classic. All four are expected to retail in Q3 between 50 and 90 Euros, prior to applicable taxation and subsidies.
“People in emerging markets like Africa are increasingly demanding more from their mobile phone -- their expectations and demands in terms of functionality and design are similar to people in any other part of the world -- they simply have less income at their disposal,” commented Alex Lambeek, Vice President, Entry, who oversees Nokia’s efforts in emerging markets.
The Nokia 5000 arrives as Nokia’s cheapest megapixel camera phone (90 Euro), offering 1.3 megapixels of capture performance returned on a high resolution QVGA display screen. The 5000 also comes complete with an FM radio with record function and MP3 ringtones. However, perhaps the 5000’s defining feature is its connectivity, which includes mobile e-mail support, Nokia Express Audio Messaging, Bluetooth and GPRS.
Offered as a handset crafted for entertainment and Internet access, the 75 Euro Nokia 2680 is Nokia’s first slide phone to be introduced into entry markets and comes equipped with an onboard digital camera, FM radio with record function, expanded phone book, and MP3 ringtones
The oddly stylish Nokia 7070 Prism might not be everyone’s cup of technological tea in an aesthetic sense, but its distinctive folding design, geometric patterning and external lighting effects certainly catch the eye. Complete with themes, wallpapers, MP3 ringtones, voice recorder, and an integrated hands-free speaker, the Prism is expected to retail for a mere 50 Euros.
And finally, the similarly priced Nokia 1680 Classic is described as being the company’s “most affordable cameraphone to date,” and includes a basic digital camera, video recording features, one-touch media access, content sharing and easy access to e-mail in one simple yet attractive package..
Beyond the unveiling of its emerging market handsets, Nokia has also joined with Webmail International Ltd to introduce Webmobile, which is a locally hosted mobile e-mail solution offered exclusively for South Africa that‘s set to launch before the close of Q2.
Finland-based Nokia Corp. is the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile phones, offering the industry’s largest portfolio of products with support for more than 80 languages across a customer base of over 80 million people.
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