Struggling mobile phone maker Nokia has unveiled its first three basic phone models with large touch screens, aimed at the budget end of the market, as it looks to fill a gap in its product range and catch up with rivals, particularly in emerging markets.
The touch device range includes Asha 305, 306, and 311 phones, which have 3″ inch touchscreen display and run on Asha Touch user interface. Nokia Asha range was first introduced in October last year and includes 10 models, which are available in over 130 countries.
Nokia Asha 305 and the Nokia Asha 306 feature 3″ inch WQVGA resistive touch screen, 2MP camera, GPRS, and Edge connectivity. Nokia Asha 305 also comes with dual-SIM support. These phones will be available in Silver White, Red, Mid Blue and Dark Grey colours.
Nokia Asha 311 comes with 3″ inch scratch resistant, capacitive glass screen, 3.2 MP camera, 1 GHz processor and HSPA connectivity. This phone will be available in various colours – Dark Grey, Rose Red, Blue, Brown and Sand White.
The Nokia Asha 305, Asha 306 and Asha 311 offer a fully re-designed touch user interface, and are targeted at young urban buyers. Consumers will have access to 10,000 web apps as well as 25,000 regular apps via Nokia store on the new phones. These phones also come with 40 free games from EA including Tetris, Bejeweled, Need for Speed – The Run and EA SPORTS FIFA 1.
Nokia said on Wednesday its Asha 305 model would go on sale this month for 63 euros ($79), excluding subsidies and taxes. The Asha 306 and Asha 311 models will go on sale next quarter for 68 euros and 92 euros respectively.
Previously Nokia has not had full touchscreen phones in non-smartphone segments. The new phones will be competing with cheaper Android phones from the likes of Huawei, ZTE and Samsung and in India also from local handsets makers like Micromax and Spice.
