Nokia Asha 501 expected to make its debut at Thursday event

Nokia is expected to make a big announcement at a special event in Delhi, India on Thursday. Chatter in the past one week suggests that the company will be launching a new Asha device.

Twitter user @evleaks has now gone ahead to predict that Nokia will be launching Asha 501 at this event. @evleaks has also posted an alleged picture of this device that features the phone in various vibrant colours including Black, White, Red, Blue, Green and Yellow.

It is very difficult to judge the form factor of the phone from this picture. However, it does appear that the Nokia Asha 501 will be a full-touch device. As per the image, the phone seems to have only one physical button, which is placed right under the screen. Nokia Asha 501 is likely to be the most expensive device in the Asha line-up.

Previous rumours have suggested that Nokia is working on a new range of Asha devices, which will have an improved design and UI. These new phones are expected to have a better camera module and should have at least 5-megapixel rear camera on-board.

Nokia is trying to make a comeback in the smartphone race through its Lumia range of devices. In addition to that the Finnish handset maker is banking on its Asha devices to be able to maintain its position in the budget phone market.

The company had recently launched Nokia Asha 210, which comes with a QWERTY keyboard and a dedicated WhatsApp button for fast access to instant messaging. WhatsApp is offering its service for free on all Nokia Asha 210 devices button for their lifespan. The phone comes with the ability to launch WhatsApp direct from contact cards in the Phonebook.

The Nokia Asha 210 comes with a 2-megapixel camera that can be accessed through a dedicated key even when the keypad is locked. It has a 2.4-inch QVGA display. Nokia Asha 210 will be available in single-SIM and dual-SIM options featuring Nokia's EasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device.