14 DAY TRIAL // Even after shutting down its Bochum-based factory and firing around 2300 people, Nokia 'dared' to launch two low-end handsets as if nothing really happened. The big scandal that followed the closing announcement seemed to get by Nokia without even a 'scratch'. The two new phones launched recently, Nokia 2600 classic and the Nokia 1209, are two low-end handsets which seem to be meant exactly for those markets where Nokia also intends to move its whole handsets production on - the low-cost markets.
Anyway, the first entry phone presented, the Nokia 2600 classic, offers a wide range of colors or exchangeable covers for consumers in emerging markets like India, Pakistan and even Vietnam. Beside the fact that allows consumers to customize their phone with colorful, fully changeable Xpress-on covers and MP3 ring tones, the phone also features a number of entertainment features, including an FM radio and a VGA camera. But that's about all the highlights of the phone and, except for the low price, there's nothing really attractive.
Nokia 2600 classic will retail for approximately 65 euros without applicable taxes or subsidies, and has already begun shipping during the first quarter of 2008.
The second model introduced recently, the Nokia 1209, offers additional cost management features to make phone sharing easy and convenient. Innovations include the pre-paid tracker, a cost-tracking application, and the multiple phonebook, which allows up to five people to store personal contact lists of up to two hundred numbers on a single phone. Designed for those who didn't own a mobile phone, the Nokia 1209 incorporates Nokia's intuitive user interface, dust resistance, and offers up to 80 languages. The Nokia 1209 also has a one-piece key mat for durability and reliability.
Nokia 1209 will become globally available during the second quarter of 2008 and will retail for approximately 35 euros without applicable taxes or subsidies.
