Nokia launches smarter Asha 501

New Delhi, May 9: Giving a major thrust to reach the lower end of Google's Android platform, Nokia has launched the Asha 501, a new touchscreen handset that further blurs the line between featurephone and smartphone. The phone is priced at $99 (Rs 5,300 approximately).The 501 comes with a radically different design and runs on a re-engineered OS Nokia's dubbed the "Asha software platform." The new version of the Asha touch UI is designed to be quicker and slicker, and has a focus on swiping gestures to make it feel more fluid. Nokia also said the new Asha platform is faster and more responsive.The Asha 501 gives users the choice of two main screens: Home and Fastlane. Home is a traditional, icon-based view for launching individual apps or accessing a specific feature, like the dialler or phone settings. While the new Fastlane view changes based on device usage, showing things like “recently accessed contacts, social networks and apps.”The Asha 501 has a 3-inch QVGA screen (320 x 240) covered with hardened glass up front, with an unknown amount of internal storage supplemented by a microSD slot behind the back cover -- a 4GB card is included with every phone. The phone doesn't support 3G radios, so your only options for pulling data are over 2G and WiFi. The phone has a 3.2-megapixel fixed-focus shooter (no flash) on the back, and no front-facing camera. However, just below the display, you'll find a physical key, which is merely a sequential back button for retracing your steps through apps. There's no need for menu or home keys thanks to the swipe-based UI features of the new software platform.The device brings in vibrant color palette including yellow, red, blue, green, white or black plastic, which envelopes the main body of hardware on all sides, much like the Lumia 620. On the outside, a volume rocker and power button of matching hue are integrated into the right edge of the cover, besides a micro-USB port and headphone jack spread across the top.The cute-looking device measures 99.2 x 58 x 12.1mm (3.9 x 2.3 x 0.5 inch) and weighs just 98g (3.5 ounces). It has a boxy design and is easy to hold in hands. The 501 has comfortable curves in all the right places. The build quality of 501 is sturdy. In a nutshell, the Nokia has given all out efforts to bring it in line with the Lumia range make for quite a desirable package.Nokia continues to expand its portfolio in lower end of Androd – by adding a variety of new hardware and software features to devices in the range, including full Qwerty keyboards; dedicated keys for Facebook/WhatsApp; refreshed industrial design; its Bluetooth sharing technology Slam; its Xpress browser to lighten the data consumption load; preloaded social networking apps; free games downloads; and a focus on long battery life.Apps available for the new Nokia Asha platform include CNN, eBuddy, ESPN, Facebook, Foursquare, Line, LinkedIn, Nimbuzz, Pictelligent, The Weather Channel, Twitter, WeChat, World of Red Bull and games from Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Indiagames, Namco Bandai and Reliance Games. Nokia said its HERE location software will also be available as a download, starting in Q3 this year.The 501 also comes preloaded with Nokia's cloud-based data compressing Xpress browser. Nokia also announced the availability of Nokia Xpress Now, a new Web application that recommends content based on location, preferences and trending topics. It will be available through the Browser homepage or as a download from Nokia Store."Nokia has surpassed expectations of what's achievable in the sub-100 USD phone category with a new Asha handset that is unlike any other, with design cues from Lumia and a mix of features, services and affordability that is valued by price-conscious buyers," said Neil Mawston, executive director, Global Wireless Practice, Strategy Analytics.The Asha 501 is in fact the first fruit of Nokia's 2012 acquisition of Smarterphone, a Norwegian company that made mobile OSes for feature phones designed to give them smartphone looks and capabilities.The Nokia Asha 501 is expected to start shipping in June 2013. It is expected to be available through approximately 60 operators and distributors in more than 90 countries worldwide.