They’re smart, they’re fast, and they’re a bunch of lookers, too. From touchscreens to QWERTY, from top-of-the-line to entry level, Nokia got the tech world excited once more with its Windows Phone range that’s packed with freebie apps and games.
“We are seeing a growth in the numbers of smartphone users across the board, though the fastest-growing segment is in entry-level smartphones, as lowering costs and improved network access make smartphones available to more and more people,” said Nokia head of smart devices product marketing Ilari Nurmi in an interview during the Nokia World 2011 in London, United Kingdom.
With the release of the entry-level Nokia Windows Phone, anyone can now enjoy browsing the Web, listening to music, posting in social networks, sending e-mail, or chatting online on the go. Even more, said Nurmi, these babies are also loaded with popular apps like Angry Birds, Skype, Foursquare, Shazam.
Everyday moments
The Nokia Lumia range headlines the Windows Phone. The Lumia 800, in cyan, magenta and black, is a stunner with a smooth touchscreen UI in 3.7-inch AMOLED Clear Black curved display technology. It offers the best social and Internet performance, integrated communication threads, easy grouping of contacts, one-touch social network access and Internet Explorer 9.
The Lumia 800 is powered by a 1.4 GHz processor with hardware acceleration and graphics processor. It features an 8-MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, HD playback, 16 GB internal user memory and 25 GB of free SkyDrive storage for images and music.
“Eight months ago, we shared our new strategy and today we are demonstrating clear progress of this strategy in action. We’re driving innovation throughout our entire portfolio, from new smartphone experiences to ever smarter mobile phones,” said Stephen Elop, Nokia president and CEO.
Next in line is the Nokia Lumia 710, a phone designed for instant social and image sharing. Still packed with Internet Explorer 9, this one can be personalized with exchangeable back cover in black and white, with black, white, cyan, fuchsia and yellow back covers. Priced less than the Lumia 800 but packed with the same processor, this model is no slacker.
Both Lumia models include Nokia Drive, a full-fledged personal navigation device (PND) with free turn-by-turn navigation and dedicated in-car user interface; and MixRadio, a free global music-streaming app with hundreds of channels.
“Windows Phone takes a completely different approach to other smartphone platforms. It is the first smartphone platform to put people first, making it easier to access the people and content that matter most, and reflecting the way people actually use smartphones as part of their everyday lives,” said Nurmi.
Windows Phone, he continued, is built around a series of experience hubs—similar to the people hub, gaming or office hub. Apps and services are also integrated, he said, with social networks and online search for an “easier, faster and more seamless experience.”
No need to unlock the phone, for instance, if you need to use the camera. In seconds you can edit and post your images.
Industrial design
Nokia also introduced a new family of smarter mobile phones via its Asha range. From the Hindi word meaning “hope,” Asha symbolizes Nokia’s intention to focus on positive user experiences and connecting millions to new opportunities. These are the Asha 303, Asha 300, Asha 200 and Asha 201.
The much-affordable Asha range is for those who want access to innovations like easy-to-use dual SIM, local service and content, third-party apps while still getting the same quality experience from a Nokia end-user.
The Asha 303, with 2.6 capacitive touchscreen with QWERTY keypad, allows you to stay in touch with people relevant in your life with its Internet and social network apps. Not too shabby as it’s packed with 1GHz engine, 3G and WLAN, access to social networks, e-mail and IM are at the highlight of the experience. It’s loaded with fun, too, as the Asha 303 is pre-installed with Angry Birds Lite, Facebook Chat, WhatsApp messaging and the latest Nokia Maps.
The Asha 300, powered by the same processor as the Asha 303, allows for faster Internet access by compressing Web pages by up to 90 percent. It comes with a 5-MP camera, music player, FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity and can handle memory cards up to 32GB. A touch device that also offers a keypad, this also comes preloaded with Angry Birds Lite.
While not on the top-of-the-line in the Asha range, the dual-SIM Asha 200 features integrated social networking, e-mail and IM, with RenRen, Orkut and Flickr support. Carry around thousands of songs with a 32GB memory support feature, powered by battery life of up to 52 hours playback time.
For young people who love music but still like to stay socially connected online, the Asha 201 is the right choice. This one features a high-performance loudspeaker, enhanced stereo FM radio and ringtone tuning. It has Nokia Browser, supports push e-mail and WhatsApp messaging app.
“People buy smartphones, not platforms. When they try Windows Phone, they love it,” said Nurmi.