14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia is still struggling to fulfill the high demand for its Lumia 920 smartphone, but has the time to launch two brand new feature phones, the Asha 205 and 206.
Both are entry-level handsets that will be launched in India in Q4 2012. No word on the exact release date, but Nokia has confirmed that each device will cost only Rs 3,500 outright, which is about $60/€45.
It is also worth mentioning that Nokia has announced that both Asha 205 and 206 will be launched in Indonesia and Nigeria in Q4 2012 as well.
Given the fact that both handsets are aimed at emerging markets, Nokia fans should not expect any high-end features. Still, Nokia Asha 205 and 206 come with dual-SIM capability, which is extremely important for low-end phones.
However, keep in mind that Nokia Asha 205 will also come in a single SIM version, which will probably be released in Europe or other regions where dual-SIM capability is not so much sought in budget-friendly feature phones.
Overall, Nokia Asha 205 and 206 comes with similar specs, though there are slight differences, so customers can choose what suits them best.
For example, the Asha 205 features full QWERTY keyboard, whereas the Asha 206 comes with a standard keypad. On the other hand, the latter packs a 1.3-megapixel photo snapper, while the former only features a VGA camera.
Nokia has also stated that the Asha 205 is the first phone in the series to feature a dedicated “Facebook Button.” The Asha 206 does not come with one.
Each handset packs 10MB of internal memory, as well as microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB). They also feature 2.4-inch QVGA displays and 1020 mAh Li-Ion batteries.
According to Nokia, Asha 205 and 206 come with Nokia Slam, a new service that allows users to transfer media between devices that support Bluetooth connectivity without having to manually pair them.
As expected, both Asha phones are pre-loaded with Twitter, Facebook and eBuddy apps, and provide access to more than 40 EA games for free.
