Nokia 150 (left), Nokia 150 Dual SIM (right)
On Tuesday, HMD Global - which has the exclusive rights to use the Nokia brand name on mobile devices - unveiled the Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM much earlier than previously expected. However, both Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM - the first Nokia-branded mobile phones by HMD Global - are feature phones, and not the much anticipated Nokia Android phones. The Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM basic phones will go on sale in select markets from Q1 2017, starting with APAC, IMEA, and Europe.
(Also see: 5 Memorable Nokia Phones That Made History)
The Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM are basic feature phones and do not offer Internet access; however, they offer features such as an MP3 player, FM radio, Bluetooth v3.0 with SLAM, and a VGA camera with an LED flash. Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM, which feature 2.4-inch QVGA (240x320 pixels) displays, run on Nokia Series 30+ operating system, and are priced at $26 (roughly Rs. 1,800) before local taxes and subsidies. The Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM offer battery life of up to 22 hours, according to HMD Global; the battery standby time of Nokia 150 is 31 days, while the Nokia 150 Dual SIM is claimed to deliver 25 days of standby time.
Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM come pre-loaded with Snake Xenzia, and the try-and-buy version of Nitro Racing by Gameloft2, says HMD.
To recall, HMD Global is the Finnish company that owns the rights to use the Nokia brand on mobile phones. The company, led by former Nokia executives, earlier this month took over the Nokia basic phone business from Microsoft and has struck a licensing deal with Nokia Oyj to bring the brand back to the smartphone market next year.
(Also see: What Nokia Android Phones Need to Get Right to Become a Success)
The basic phone business currently makes most of its sales in India, elsewhere in Asia and eastern Europe.
Nokia was once the world's dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to smartphones. It sold all the handset activities to Microsoft in 2014 and is now focused on telecom network equipment.
Microsoft struggled to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung in smartphones and has largely quit the phones business.
Written with inputs from Reuters
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