Nokia announces replacement phones for emerging markets

Permalink: Nokia announces replacement phones for emerging markets by Jan Harris

As market growth in Europe and North America slows, mobile handset maker, Nokia, has unveiled four new phones designed to allow consumers in emerging markets to replace their first phones.

The four new models are priced between 50 euros and 90 euros, and will compete in the replacement phone market, in emerging economies, which is expected to grow to more than 60 percent of sales volumes this year, compared with 50 percent last year.

The phones include features such as FM radio receivers and recorders, cameras, and music players, to encourage consumers to upgrade.

FM Recording is expected to be particularly popular in emerging markets, and two of Nokia’s new phones, the Nokia 5000 and Nokia 2680, have radio recording function.

A low-end multimedia phone, the Nokia 5000, will be available this quarter for around 90 euros, as will Nokia’s cheapest camerphone, the 1680 Classic, which will retail for 50 euros. These prices exclude taxes and subsidies.

The Nokia 2680 slider phone, priced at 75 euros, and the Nokia 7070 Prism, priced at 50 euros, will both go on sale in the third quarter.

Nokia’s market share in Africa and the Middle East was 67 percent in the fourth quarter, according to figures from Strategy Analytics.