Nokia India calls it a result of “deep consumer insights”. We call it a startlingly late reaction. The Finnish mobile giant, which controlled 54.1% of India’s mobile phone market in 2009, according to research firm IDC, has finally launched its first dual-SIM phones. Dual-SIM phones feature slots for two SIM cards, and are capable of taking, switching and diverting calls seamlessly between the two numbers.
The feature has been largely responsible for the growth in popularity of local mobile brands such as Micromax and Lemon mobiles. Nokia’s C1 and C2 (see photo) are priced competitively at Rs1,999 and Rs2,500, respectively. The C1 features six weeks of claimed standby battery life, as well as standard entry-level features such as a flashlight, FM radio and a colour screen. The C2 comes with Ovi Tools, Nokia’s software suite, and includes a music player and SD card slot with capacity up to 32GB.
Krish Raghav