Asha way to do it. Nokia reckons its budget Asha phones can defeat the wealth of cheap Android phones, and committing to Windows Phone instead of switching to Android.
Discussing Nokia's disappointing performance during the last three months of last year, Nokia boss Stephen Elop revealed how Nokia plans to take on Android in the middle and lower-priced parts of the phone market.
Nokia is "focused on taking [Windows Phone] to lower and lower prices", with cheaper Windows mobiles that will "over time compete with Android".
There's such a vast array of budget Android phones that the operating system dominates the middle of the market, below the more feature-packed and expensive smart phones. Apple has ceded that territory by insisting on keeping the iPhone as a premium, high-end device, which affords Windows Phone --- and, this year, possibly BlackBerry 10 too -- an opportunity to steal this large segment of the market.
Elop has previously confirmed Nokia's commitment to Windows Phone in the short term, but stayed noncommittal about long-term plans, which many saw as an openness towards Android if Windows Phone dies a death.
But Elop now says sticking with Asha will allow Nokia to avoid Android's challenges, like fragmentation across a range of devices and software upgrades. Apps such as Here and Nokia Music will also trickle down to Asha from Windows Phone.
Asha phones are S40-based sort-of-smart phones, with basic apps built into simple affordable handsets like the Nokia Asha 302.
Can Asha defeat Android? Is this Nokia's year? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 7
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simonjphillips 25 January, 2013 15:23
Had they made the Asha range of phone Android I think Nokia would be ruling the smart phone industry by the end of 2013.
anonymous 25 January, 2013 17:23
Doubt it - you can buy android phones from £32 that will pretty much do everything a middle to top end phone will do. Its just not as snappy, screen isn't as good and it can't play top end games.
So why would you go for the crippled phone Asha would be if its based on S40 system?
Nokia would be better off just throwing in the towel and running two operating systems - Win for its better handsets and Android for its cheap handsets.
anonymous 25 January, 2013 17:46
I agree with the above comments, Nokia need to drop Windows as they're only option for OS... I think they should make theyre Asha phones for Android and take over the 3rd World countries, I'm from Albania only the really rich people or drug dealers can afford S3, OneX or iPhones ...!! Ordinary People are just buying crappy LG, Samsung Ace, Nokia X6 ... Which lets be honest are quite crap!!
Asha phones for a person in my country is more than adequate but if it did have Android it would be out of this world!!!
Dan
anonymous 25 January, 2013 20:01
This Nokia Android issue is all about pride, whoever is ruling Nokia is not accepting his mistake. Eventually Nokia will have no option but to have Nokia with Android OS. I know very well Finland people.
anonymous 27 January, 2013 17:41
S40 is clearly dead, and is nothing compared to any decent OS (Android, Windows Phone, iOS). It's almost as bad as BlackBerry. If the Asha range was running Android, well...
That's not going to happen. After all, Elop is a Microsoft shareholder.
anonymous 28 February, 2013 09:24
If Nokia pushed Symbian Belle into the Asha range, they might stand a chance. This way, I doubt it,
anonymous 15 May, 2013 21:32
QWERTY phones are useful for one very important reason - you can rest your fingers on the keys without the phone thinking that these are letters you want to type. People who are not teenagers don't need most smartphone apps and blackberry internet is a scam and with a pre-OS 10 blackberry you also can't disable the mobile connection while still having wifi.
I think there is a huge market for someone who can tackle these problems, none of which is very difficult to solve and which nobody has had the imagination to exploit.
Peter