Nokia 100 & 101: affordable single, dual SIM handsets

17th September 2011
Nokia 100 & 101: affordable  single, dual SIM handsets

They were a bit slow on the uptake; but global mobile handset leaders, Nokia, are now aggressively targeting what the late and great C.K. Prahlad, identified as the ‘bottom of the pyramid” – the huge market of low margins and high volumes, offered by value-conscious but low spending Indians. The company last week unveiled a fifth dual SIM phone in less than a year – one that is tailored to appeal to music lovers --  as well as the most affordable colour screen single SIM handset it has released in India.
The dual SIM Nokia 101 ( Rs 1699) has integrated MP3 player, FM radio, a 103 phon ( that’s level of loudness) speaker and the ability to carry a complete music collection in the 16 GB expandable memory.
The SIM manager allows users to store settings of up to five SIM cards on the phone, and to personalize them by assigning names and logos for each SIM setting.
At Rs 1399, the Nokia 100, available from early October, is company’s most affordable colour display phone. It comes with an FM radio.
Both the Nokia 101 and Nokia 100 offer Nokia Life Tools and Nokia Money in India, providing instant access to locally-relevant information on healthcare, education, agriculture and entertainment. An offer for both phones from Airtel, offers 100 minutes of free Airtel to Airtel talktime for the first month. Customers will also get 400 national and local SMS free every month. and may continue to avail its benefits in the second month with a minimum recharge.

At these prices, Nokia is set to challenge the half dozen so-called 'Indian' handset brands -- which in any case are almost always imported from China. Sep 18 2011