Nokia targets emerging markets with NHN Line deal, new phones

NHK World reported that Nokia's new low-end smartphones, announced yesterday, will come pre-installed with the Line application. NHN offiicials have said that they hope the tie-up will help boost the number of Line users in Africa, Latin America and Asia. 

The service has 100 million users worldwide, but more than 40 per cent reside in Japan. 

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia showcased two phones aimed at developing nations, the Nokia 301 and the Nokia 105. The 301 is a $90 phone that comes with a 3.5G internet connection, video streaming and smart-camera features. The phone, which comes in bold colors, uses Nokia's Xpress Browser, which the company claims provides up to 90 percent better data efficiency than other browsers. The device is billed as the most affordable Nokia device to offer video streaming.

At an even lower price point of $20, the Nokia 105 is the manufacturer's cheapest yet and sports a 35-day battery life. It will start rolling out in the first quarter of the year and will be expanded to China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, Vietnam and other markets in Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

According to Fast Company, the idea behind the phone is to support developing world users who have limited access to a reliable power source. These users can now rely on the phone to stay usable for an entire month between charges. 

"The momentum behind Nokia is gathering pace," Stephen Elop, Nokia's president and CEO said in a statement. "The launches today reflect our commitment to broadening our devices and services portfolio to meet the demands of people and businesses around the globe. By offering better experiences at a more affordable price we are reinventing the battle for affordable mobile devices, and Nokia has the building blocks to win."