Nokia’s mobile market share in Western markets may have fallen with the advent of the smartphone but it has never lost its reputation for quality. That’s especially important in developing nations where its phones are a key staple among consumers. The company is keen to keep these users happy so last month saw the launch of the Nokia Asha 501.
The new device offers the most advanced feature phone on the market for developing consumers. More importantly, it builds upon Nokia’s traditional reputation for quality; the Asha has a standby battery life of an incredible 47 days. It also delivers the fundamental qualities of a smartphone for its users – access to working email, messaging services and the mobile web. All of these features are further available for the meagre price of $99.
While not at the bleeding edge of technology – the Asha offers a 3” display, 4GB of storage and a 3.2 megapixel camera – it represents an important stepping stone for developing nations. The Asha further boasts Wi-Fi capabilities, although it is currently only available on 2G. Nevertheless, consumers will have access to key social networking apps such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare.
Such features are of great benefit to developing consumers. The Asha 501 offers users the opportunity to get online and experience mobile in a new and exciting way through apps. For advertisers, the device opens a range of opportunities to more effectively target consumers, be it through Wi-Fi networks, apps or social media profiles.
The Asha will be made available to consumers in over 90 countries, with shipping beginning this month. We certainly think it’s one device to watch for a variety of reasons ranging from performance marketing promises to the technical specs and usability.
