Web Pedia

Nokia has announced its Asha 501 smartphone to debut the Asha Platform, claimed by Nokia to offer innovative user interface, a faster and seamless mobile operating system for low-to-mid level smartphones.

Asha 501 comes with solid build and colours at an affordable price. It supports single SIM or easy-swap Dual SIM features.

Design

Nokia says that its Asha 501 offers high-end design and build-quality accessible to more people through this affordable phone. Nokia Asha 501 comes in just two parts: a durable, removable casing and the scratch-resistant glass display, which features a three-inch, capacitive touchscreen and a single ‘back’ button.

Asha weighs only 98 grams and comes in six colours.

User Interface

Asha platform is said to make things easier for people to access anything they like with a simple swipe and a 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. The new Fastlane view was inspired by how people really use their phone. Recently accessed contacts, social networks and apps, unique to each person, are stored and presented in Fastlane. It provides a record of how the phone is used, giving people a glimpse of their past, present and future activity, and helping them multi-task by providing easy access to their favorite features.

Asha Platform

Nokia has this tendency of introducing various mobile operating platform, but not sticking to anyone. Asha platform is hoped to be more usual for the firm and should become a primary platform for Asha series of phones.

The new Asha platform provides developers with an open, standards-based environment for creating quality apps for consumers. Developers can create apps for the Nokia Asha 501 that will be compatible with future Asha platform-based devices.

Nokia gives developers the chance to make more money through the global reach of Nokia Store and tools like Nokia In-App Payment and Nokia Advertising Exchange (NAX), as well as Nokia’s unparalleled operator billing network.

Nokia said that Asha already offers some popular applications including 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. WhatsApp and other key partners continue to explore new Asha.

48 Days of Battery

Nokia Asha 501 is claimed to offer whooping 48 days of battery stand-by – when using a single SIM.

Specs of Nokia Asha 501

• Dimensions:  99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm; 98 grams
• Camera: 3.2 MP
• Single SIM standby time: up to 48 days**
• Dual SIM standby time: up to 26 days**
• Talk time: up to 17 hours
• Additional memory of 4GB (card included in box), expandable up to 32GB
• Forty free EA Games worth €75 downloadable from Nokia Store
• Available colours: Bright Red, Bright Green, Cyan, Yellow, White and Black

Availability and Price

Nokia Asha 501 is expected to start shipping in June 2013 at around Rs. 10,000 or around.