ASIA-PACIFIC – INDIA, MAY 12, 2013 – Seeking to boost its fortunes in the global sub-$100 smartphone sector and increase its foothold in the burgeoning Indian telecommunications market, Nokia has debuted a new low-end smartphone in New Delhi, the Asha 501.
The $99 Asha 501 touchscreen model is the latest entrant into the lower-end category, which Nokia foresees will be worth $40bn worldwide in 2015. The Asha 501, which runs the Nokia Asha software platform 1.0, resembles the company’s higher-end Lumia smartphones, which are powered by the Windows Phone mobile operating system. Nokia is aiming to entice feature-phone users who may be considering upgrading to smartphones – more specifically, budget-friendly models running Google’s Android software. Key features of the Asha 501 include a 3-in. TFT capacitive screen, dual-SIM card option, a microSD card slot and a powerful battery allowing for 17 hours of talk time and up to 48 days standby time. Initially, only 2G models will be released, but the range will grow to incorporate 3G models soon.
The Asha 501 will begin shipping to vendors around the world in June 2013. Nokia says that the phone will be available in 90 countries worldwide.
The budget smartphone market, especially in emerging markets such as those in Africa and Asia where smartphone penetration is still low, is key for Nokia, which has been attempting to improve its performance. The number of smartphones the company sold worldwide was down 49 percent in the first quarter of 2013.
