Nokia’s $99 Asha 501 targeting emerging markets

Nokia have been selling well in the high end markets, but their new Asha 501 has been specifically designed to battle in emerging markets. The smartphone will retail for only $99 off contract.

The Lumia phones have proven popular in wealthier parts of the world such as Europe and it makes sense for Nokia to release a handset to target the growing audience with a limited budget.

The new handset runs the Asha platform which is designed for the budget range of phones. The Asha interface has a ‘FastLane' launching system which incorporates a list of recently and predictive apps and services. You can bypass this to use a traditional homescreen.

The Asha 501 is based around a 3 inch screen with 160×120 resolution. It has 128mb of ram inside and 4GB of storage and a 3.2 MP camera. Nokia are competitively targeting the lowest possible price point

As this is a new platform, there are not many apps yet developed, but Nokia are working with developers to improve the situation over coming months.

Nokia issued a press release which reads “The device is available in a choice of six striking colours that complement the elegant design. It comes in just two parts: a durable, removable casing and the scratch-resistant glass display, which features a three-inch, capacitive touchscreen and a single ‘back' button. The compact new Asha weighs only 98 grams, for the ultimate portability.”

The Asha 501 will start shipping next month in more than 90 countries.

You can read more over here at the Nokia press site.

Kitguru says: This should be a big seller in emerging markets.

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