Nokia has taken the wraps off two low-cost mobile 
handsets slated for introduction at $30 and $35 price points later this year, not including carrier subsidies. Based on Nokia's Series 30 operating system, the Nokia 100 and Nokia 101 feature a built-in color display, an FM radio, pre-loaded games, and even an integrated flashlight.
The new devices are squarely aimed at consumers in emerging markets who are looking for a phone that offers great features but is also dependable, noted Nokia Executive Vice President Mary McDowell.
"When paired with powerful and locally relevant services such as Nokia Life Tools, the Nokia 101 and Nokia 100 offer a unique experience that is simply unmatched in their markets at these price points," McDowell said Thursday.
For an extra five dollars, Nokia 101 buyers also will get a built-in MP3 player and headset, together with dual SIM-card capabilities. Calls routed between two different wireless carriers within the United Kingdom and other mature markets don't cost extra, "but this is not the case in most countries," said IDC Research Manager Francisco Jeronimo.
Dual-SIM Phones
Nokia's dual-SIM phones will let handset users access to two different carriers from the same handset. One SIM card provides access to the user's principal wireless provider, while the second can accommodate a prepaid SIM card for a second operator offering lower calling prices in areas beyond the reach of the principal provider's network .
Dual-SIM phones have become popular in southern Europe, where the cost savings can be substantial, Jeronimo noted. The Nokia SIM manager allows users to select which SIM card to use for a call or to send a text message.
"So there's no need to carry a second device, [which] is the main reason why people like dual-SIM phones," Jeronimo explained. "Another reason is related to personal and professional numbers when needed."
Nokia's low-cost handsets are also designed to enable a single device to be shared among multiple members of the same family. The Nokia SIM manager offers support for "up to five separate address books and stores personalization details for up to five different SIM cards," Nokia explained.
Brand-Name Leverage
Through its introduction of the low-cost Nokia 100 and Nokia 101, the handset market is clearly aiming to leverage its well-known brand to recapture a percentage of the so-called "white box " sales that have been growing more popular in emerging markets. Gartner noted last January that non-brand-name handset shipments exceeded 360 million in 2010. (continued...)
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