Nokia launches new range of phones

NEW DELHI: Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia launched its range of qwerty devices, whose keypad is like that of a computer keyboard, starting at Rs 5,300. (Watch)

It has also launched an improved version of Nokia Messaging with free push mail service.

Nokia Messaging aggregates multiple email accounts through one client. It can support and mobilise up to 10 email accounts such as gmail, Yahoo, rediffmail, sify and Indiatimes among others.

Nokia today launched three devices-- C3, priced at Rs 5,317.89 (Euro 90), C6-- a touch and full keyboard phone-- at Rs 13,000 (Euro 220), while E5 is priced at Rs 10,634 (Euro 180), a business-cum-entertainment device.

Nokia, which is the market leader in India has been facing competition from home grown mobile manufacturers in the low-end mobile segment.

Players like Micromax and Olive have already launched Qwerty keypad phones with a price tag of Rs 2,000.

However, when asked whether Nokia is responding to the competition with the new launch, the company's Executive Vice President Anssi Vanjoki said, "It is a strategic option for Nokia. With the new devices we are bringing mobile messaging and social networking into the hands of more people."

With the free push mail service, Nokia is also trying to tap the mobile e-mail users in India.

"People are looking at messaging services as an enhanced business tool. There are six million mail users on mobile in India. The number is expected to touch 130 million in 2014," Nokia India Managing Director and Vice President D Shivakumar said.

India is among the top five countries for the service and we are confident that with our decision to offer it free of cost, we will see a significant surge in adoption of email and messaging services in the country, he added.

The service will be available through all leading operators in the country and consumers will only have to pay the basic data download charges.

It has over three million active users in more than 100 countries today.