Products & Services
Nokia 1202: cheapest phone ever
By Mike on 04 November 2008
NEW DELHI, India – Today Nokia unveiled a stable of new handsets tailored to emerging markets, but it’s the 1202 that really stood out for me. It almost goes without saying that affordability is a key aspect for everyone in any country, but it’s a factor that’s amplified in poorer and more remote areas of India and Africa, so it was hugely encouraging to see the Nokia 1202 was announced bearing a price tag of just 25 Euros, making it the cheapest handset the company has ever launched.
Sure, this is a handset that is stripped back to the bare bones (and would be right at home in The 1100 Club, nonetheless what’s remarkable is the features that have been included and the performance that it manages for such a low price. Which immediately begs the question of how low we can go. 15 Euros? 5 Euros?
Its unassuming shell stomachs some hidden talents that would make many other ‘budget’ phones blush. Designed for use in rural communities, the team responsible for the design has included a large dust resistant keypad and built a flashlight into the device. But what really stands out is the battery life – it has a standby time of up to 26 days and talk time of up to 9 hours, which is extremely valuable to people living in areas where they have to travel a long way (an often into towns) to get their devices charged.
Equally as significant is that this is a phone designed to be shared, by up to five individuals or families – the 1202 has multiple phone books and time and pre-paid tracker, meaning that each user can separate and manage their individual usage. Suddenly it becomes a device costing 5 Euros per person, if bought as a group.
Is that how we should see it? What do you think?
Related posts:
- Nokia 1280: cheapest Nokia phone yet
- Best of 2008 in Products – Nokia 1202
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Tags | 1202, africa, conversations, Emerging markets, india, Nokia
November 5th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Thank you Nokia.
Im sure a lot of people who are poor will enjoy this new phone.
Bless you!
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Benjamin Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
what do u mean? do u mean is only poor people that can by this phone. have seen rich pple use it, becos of the portability
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November 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
cool, its nice that nokia still looks up into small peoples, almost anyone can afford it, cheap but very useful.. keep it up… GOODLUCK.
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November 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
It would be a nice phone for just about anyone who doesnt need anything fancy options. too bad Nokia decided that this phone wont reach the european markets.. according to Nokia “it would interfere with the sales of more expensive phones…” no kidding.. but for limiting the sale region on that account? cmon… i would be more than willing to get myself one of those. mainly cause i dont need anything more than sms and the typical call services. AND i cant afford the more expensive phones.. My advice to Nokia.. re-think ur marketing strategy….
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November 11th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Hello its really very nice mobile…….any one can buy it…there are so many options are there in this set…..good luck..
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Anonymous Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:36 am
@Pratibha, nice comments
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February 12th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
its a very beautiful handset
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February 17th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Кога ще влезе в България? (When this phone is in Bulgaria?)
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February 18th, 2009 at 7:32 am
what are the price my be in Tanzania?
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March 18th, 2009 at 5:09 am
LG gives a color phone in same price plus a mobile tracker.
Poor people are not the only users, people who just want to keep inexpensive phone are also make up user base.
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March 18th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
It is no doubt a very good phone by Nokia, smart look + reasonable functionality.
I must say that it is one of the best phones in this price range.
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March 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
How to change the default keyguard code in 1202? Can’t find any way to change
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April 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
the phone is not good….
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April 28th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
O God nice phone…
So smart look it has !
I bought that one yesterday..
No options..Just simple
I accidentally found that when searching 4 Motorola F3…
Cheap but best ever from nokia !
Thanks !!!
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May 4th, 2009 at 7:06 am
wao very god lookingmobile phone
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May 18th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Hey there people .. can u please tell me ..wether da phone’s havin some kinda stopwatch, countdown timer & message counter…
Post replies sooon
thanks …..
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dave Reply:
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:48 am
yes Shweta, those features you mentioned are all available in 1202. i really love this fone for its simplicity, light weight and cheap price.
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May 18th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Iv seen phones on the market on websites for 20 pounds, but i guess thats very much for poor people.
Um,
But my mam intends to get exspensive phones, since she likes 8-10 megapixel ones, its because she just texts/calls and take photos
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May 19th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I badly wanted to buy this new phone but when i reached there i was told that it’s out of stock.what can i do?
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June 13th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
THE PEOPLES PHONE
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June 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
THE PEOPLES PAPER AND PHONE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL PHONES
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June 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 am
Buy Mokia 1202 $?TQ
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July 1st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I SAW A PONE 4 5 QUID SO THATS THE CHEAPEST
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July 26th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Saw this phone in local Mobile store for Rs.1250 ( about US $ 26.0 or GBP 16.00 )
Going to get it tomorrow, it will make an excellent second handset. The only gripe is the flimsy rubber keypad, but at the price it is ok.
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July 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Thanks for nokia releasing cheapest moblie, good looking set ever.
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August 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am
I bought one when I was in India; it suits my ‘phone use perfectly. Pity the model isn’t available in the UK or Europe.
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August 1st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
There are many poor people in Europe. Some live in poverty. How can super rich Nokia morally deny Europe’s poor the use of the Nokia 1202 People’s Phone ???
Do not be greedy Nokia. Be kind and altruistic.
Thank you.
Paul
UK
EU.
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Paul Reply:
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 am
P.S. Nokia’s spokesman forgot to mention that with manufacturing costs in China so utterly cheap, the retail price of € (that is a Euro sign) 25 is affordable for Nokia.
All of Europe wants a cheap phone, devoid of gimmicks, that can last a few weeks between battery charges.
I do – as a back-up for my E71. I’m still using a 6210 and a 6151. My E61 lays unused in a desk drawer. The E51 looks quiet sexy.
The Nokia 1202 is designed for the USA market. When will Europe finally get equal treatment and see the 1202 on the streets where it will be widely appreciated ???
Nokia = phones for people.
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September 5th, 2009 at 10:10 am
thanks nokia to indroduse thiz smart cheapest set in the market ,,,,now i can move with out scaring any where in the karachi city may some body snached it….thanks
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September 6th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
i’m going to buy one tomorrow, thanks nokia for the very nice and low cost phone built!!
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September 24th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Really good one for the price. I bought one yesterday after reading this article.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I got this phone and dropped it accidentally in a storm but only realized the morning after. When I found it it was submerged in water but was working perfectly. I opened it up, dried it out and it hasn’t missed a beat. The thing won’t die! My more modern phone would’ve died at the sound of thunder,
You cant beat simplicity
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October 27th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
yea, this is right, My friend Ved Prakash Ola, Dehradun which salary is Rs. 15000 but purchased this phone…….
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November 15th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
this phone by nokia is one of the best phones. I really liked the features. i was in search of a good phone and i think i got it finally.
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