Nokia unveils phones, services for emerging mkts

Nokia unveiled a range of innovative services as well as several mobile devices, to tap the booming demands in emerging markets.

Nokia on Tuesday unveiled Life Tools, a range of innovative services as well as several mobile devices, to tap the booming demands in the emerging markets.

The range of services includes the Nokia Life Tools and Mail on Ovi. Life Tools service is a range of innovative agricultural information and education services targeted at non-urban consumers. Initially this service will be launched as a pilot project in Maharashtra.

For the agricultural information service, the company intends to provide information on weather, prices of seed fertilisers etc. and prevailing market prices of the produce. The education service is aimed at providing students lessons in English and general knowledge information. SMSes will be used to deliver the information to ensure that this service work wherever a mobile phone does, without the need of GPRS coverage.

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Nokia Mail on Ovi – enabled in Nokia Series 40 devices – will offer the possibility to create an email account directly on the mobile phone without using a PC.

Nokia also expanded its portfolio of affordable mobile phones by unveiling seven new devices – Nokia 7100 Supernova, 5130XpressMusic, 2320 classis, 2323 classis, 2330 classis, 1202 and 1661.

At 25 euro (Approx Rs 1,300), 1202 is Nokia’s lowest cost handset to date. The 1202 and 1661 handsets are expected to be launched before the end of this year and first quarter of 2009 respectively.

Life Tools Service will be launched in India in the first half of 2009 with Nokia 2323 classic and Nokia 2330 classic, and expanded across select countries in Asia and Africa in later part of 2009.