A hip, young, well-connected smartphone

The Nokia Asha range of smartphones is really targeted towards the young,” shared Nokia head of corporate communications Nikka Abes. “Because we know that the young people want to stand out from the rest of the crowd with more than just the black rectangle smartphones.”

Recently Nokia launched its Asha range (305, 306 and 311). In a few weeks Nokia will launch Asha 309, which is a smartphone. The Asha range of cell phones come in hip colors like blue, red green and the standard black and white. 

“Right now young people want to be connected socially and they want to have the best cell phone for their money. This is why we have the Asha range,“ added Abes. “The Nokia Asha cell phones are priced between P3,500 to P5,600.”

Young people want to have whatsapp just like their friends so that they can be updated in ways that are cheaper than texting.

Abes added that with the Nokia Asha 309 smartphone this would be easier to do. Of course, Twitter and Facebook will also be part of the connecting experience of the Asha 309.

“Asha means hope or aspiration in Hindi and for the young who aspire to have a smartphone, this is perhaps within their range,” added Abes. “What we have is a line of cell phones that allow the young users to personalize them in ways that they want.” 

“Nokia is a company that listens exactly to what people want and we have heard what they have to say,” quipped Dharmesh Goshalia, general manager and head, commercial development, Nokia Philippines. “When I arrived in the Philippines in January it was very heartwarming to know that those Filipinos with a Nokia brand knew that it was a very durable phone.”

He added that part of the survey that Nokia made showed that people want to be connected to the Internet and they want to do this preferably with touchscreen devices. 

“We were a little late as a company in this, but we eventually brought in the right products which have a longer lifespan,” added Goshalia. “And we brought something that is really, really fun and is jam-packed with apps because Filipinos want their smartphones to hold a lot of apps, music, and games; and to be very fast in its connection to the internet.”

One of the goals of the Finnish company in the Philippines is to be able to connect the most number of people to the Internet. It hopes to achieve this with its Asha 309 smartphone.

Nokia Philippines general manager and head commercial development Dharmesh Goshalia with Nokia head of corporate communications Nikka Abes

“What is it that young people look for in a smartphone?” asked Goshalia. “That is a question that Nokia continually asks itself as a company so that it can manufacture smartphones that are relevant to the young.”

Nokia has always been known to provide products that are easy to use and built to last. Last year Nokia unveiled a strategy to connect the next billion people to the Internet and information. The aim was to expand our focus to extend mobile phones innovation to an even bigger global audience.   

Nokia’s smartphone range offers a smarter Internet experience at a very affordable price point. The entire Asha range has received positive consumer response around the world. 

“Locally, we are very happy with the encouraging reception that Filipinos have shown toward the Nokia Asha range,” Goshalia said. “This just confirms that quality and affordability are important factors that they consider in a smartphone. Nokia will continue developing products that will meet user expectations and we will remain committed to affordable mobile phone innovation.”

 The latest addition to the Asha range is the Nokia Asha 309, which features a three-inch accurate, intuitive touch-screen. With just one swipe, you can explore and jump between three customizable home screens: one for apps, one for your favorite shortcuts and one for your most used apps.

Nokia Asha 309 is pre-loaded with the Nokia Xpress Browser, which enables up to 90 percent more efficient mobile browsing and faster access to web applications compared to conventional browsers. 

The phone also comes with the free gift of 40 premium EA games, social features such as standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, the Nokia Messaging Service, and video streaming through the browser from sites like YouTube — a first within the Asha Touch range.

Asha 309 smartphone

The WiFi-ready Nokia Asha 309 is more than just a device that gives you several ways of entertainment; it also offers life-enhancing information — on education, health and infotainment. Nokia Life+ is a free web app that brings rich text- and image-based content in a fun and engaging manner.   

Nokia Asha 309 also allows you to discover new adventures and explore the best places in town through Nokia Maps. It is a free service that enables you to get to your destination in the smartest way possible. This is complemented by Nokia Nearby, a feature that searches within a 10km radius of your location and shows you the best places to do your favorite activities such as dining and shopping.