Nokia unveils 2 new mid-range touch-screen cellphones
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HELSINKI (REUTERS) - Struggling cellphone maker Nokia unveiled two new affordable touch-screen cellphone models in a bid to bolster its presence in the mass market and regain customer loyalty.
Nokia said on Tuesday it expects the Nokia Asha 308 and the Nokia Asha 309 to retail for about US$99 (S$121), excluding taxes and subsidies, with deliveries to start in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Analysts have said offering phones around or under US$100 is crucial for the company if it wants to compete with cheaper smartphones using Google's Android software.
"Winning over or keeping a first-time smartphone user in an emerging market offers Nokia a loyal customer for years to come. This is how Nokia dominated the market years ago," said Gartner analyst Ms Carolina Milanesi.
