Introduces full portfolio including Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL smartphones
Today at Mobile World Congress, Nokia reiterated its commitment to connecting the next billion to the internet by releasing five new affordable Android handsets.
The unusual step away from Microsoft Windows sees the new family of smartphones running Android apps, Microsoft services and signature Nokia experiences.
The Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL are priced to capture the fast growing affordable smartphone market and provide an entry point to Nokia's Lumia device range and Microsoft services.
Stephen Elop, executive vice president of Nokia's Devices & Services, commented on the launches: 'Nokia has connected billions of people around the world, and today we demonstrated how our portfolio is designed to connect the next billion people to great experiences.
'Our deliberate approach is to offer four tiers of products including our affordable entry level devices like the new Nokia 220; our entry-level Asha touch phones like the new Nokia Asha 230; our new Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL smartphones primarily for growth economies; and our Lumia portfolio, which is where we introduce the greatest innovation and provide full compatibility with the Microsoft experience,' he added.
The Nokia X family features Nokia's handset quality and design, with the same tile-based user interface as the Lumia family. All devices come with Fastlane, a screen that lets people switch between their favourite apps more smoothly, Nokia's HERE Maps and MixRadio, and Microsoft services, including free cloud storage using OneDrive.
However, end users are not able to access the Google Play app store; instead, they can access quality tested apps from Nokia Store, more than a dozen third party app stores and by sideloading.
The first device, the Nokia X, comes with a four inch IPS capacitive display and three megapixel camera. The Nokia X+ is optimised for multimedia enthusiasts, who can enjoy even more games, music, photos and video thanks to more memory and storage.
The third family member, the Nokia XL, boasts a five inch display with two megapixel front-facing camera and a five megapixel rear-facing, autofocus camera with flash.
The entire Nokia X family is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon dual core processor and supports Dual SIM, letting people switch SIM cards to get better tariffs.The Nokia X will go on sale immediately, starting at Euro 89 and rolling out in Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The Nokia X+ and Nokia XL are expected to roll out in these markets starting early second quarter, priced at Euro 99 and Euro 109, respectively.
Nokia also announced the Nokia Asha 230, its most affordable full-touch Asha device to date, priced at Euro 45, and the Nokia 220, an internet-ready mobile phone with social apps, priced at only Euro 29.
