Nokia unveils Asha 501 in Hyderabad

Nokia redefines affordable smartphone category; Nokia Asha 501 smartphone makes colorful debut in India

• Introduces Fast Lane - historical time frame of past, present and future activities
• Sets to connect the next billion with fast, affordable and more personal Internet

Hyderabad, July 9, 2013 - Nokia today unveiled the Nokia Asha 501, the first of a new generation of smartphones to run on the new Asha Platform, which is designed to make the experience faster and more responsive. The handset pushes the boundaries of affordable smartphone design with bold color, a high-quality build and an innovative user interface. The Nokia Asha 501 is priced affordably at Rs. 5,199/-

Nokia Asha 501
• Camera: 3.2 MP
• Dual SIM standby time: up to 26 days
• Talk time: up to 17 hours
• Additional memory of 4GB (card included in box), expandable up to 32GB
• 40 free EA Games gift pack
• Over 50 pre-loaded apps
• Free Facebook for 3 months for Airtel consumers
• 4GB Micro SD card in box
• Available colours: Bright Red, Yellow, White and Black

Commenting on the launch Mr. T.S. Sridhar, Regional General Manager (South) said 'The Nokia Asha 501 sets an exciting standard for affordable smartphones, offering a stunning design at a great price point. The design of Nokia Asha 501 brings colour, purity and craft to the device as well as builds on our approach to physical and digital harmony. With .Fastlane you can see your present, past and future, which means that you are never more than a swipe away from accessing all your favourite things. We at Nokia will continue exploring new ways to make technology more human through democratizing the way our products are created at newer price points. It's not just this one product but a refresh and a new direction for the whole new Asha range."

Standout colour and design The Nokia Asha 501 is available in a choice of four striking colours: bright red, yellow, black and white. Its seamless design comes in just two parts: a durable, removable "shell" and the scratch-resistant, tempered glass display. The compact, easy-to-use Nokia Asha 501 weighs only 98 grams, for the ultimate in portability.

Fast, intuitive user interface The Nokia Asha 501 works with just a simple swipe. Swipe unlocks the phone, closes apps and is used to shift between two screens: 'Home' and `Fastlane', Horne makes full use of the three-inch capacitive touchscreen, displaying a traditional application launcher. Fastlane is the second screen that adapts to display recent activity on the phone as well as upcoming events, helping people.

Fastlane also supports social integration with Facebook and Twitter, by allowing people to post directly from within Fastlane.

Instant access to apps and more The new Asha comes with the Nokia Xpress Browser pre-loaded, which compresses Internet data by up to 90%, making mobile browsing faster and more affordable. People can enjoy a world of entertainment on the Nokia Asha 501 with over 50 pre-installed apps like Facebook and Twitter; chat services like Line, Nimbuzz and WeChat and other apps such as Cricbuzz, Newshunt, GetMeRated, Criclnfo, CNN, ComicsHead and Twist Music, The Asha 501 will also come with 40 free EA games gift pack.

Consumers can get even more free apps and games from Nokia Store, including Nokia Nearby and the new Nokia Xpress Now content discovery web app. In addition, Airtel consumers can enjoy free Facebook for 3 months on Nokia Asha 501.

Asha platform for next-generation family of devices The new Nokia Asha 501 was purpose-built to give people the best possible mobile experiences at an affordable price. It is highly efficient, with an industry-leading standby time of up to 26 days. The Nokia Asha 501 is the first smartphone built on the new Asha platform, which leverages Nokia's investments in Smarterphone, a company which Nokia acquired in 2012.

The new Asha platform provides developers with an open, standards-based environment for creating quality apps for consumers. Developers can create apps for the Nokia Asha 501 that will be compatible with future Asha platform-based devices. Nokia gives developers the chance to make more money through the global reach of Nokia Store and tools like Nokia In-App Payment and Nokia Advertising Exchange (NAX), as well as Nokia's unparalleled operator billing network.

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia's technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world.