.

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?

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • Print this article!
  • Slashdot
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr

Related posts:

Tags | , , , , ,

  30 Comments For This Post

  1. Gomcoite Says:

    Thank you Nokia.

    Im sure a lot of people who are poor will enjoy this new phone.

    Bless you!

    Reply

    Benjamin Reply:

    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

    Reply

  2. pink mobiles Says:

    cool, its nice that nokia still looks up into small peoples, almost anyone can afford it, cheap but very useful.. keep it up… GOODLUCK.

    Reply

  3. Mazoni Says:

    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….

    Reply

  4. Pratibha Says:

    Hello its really very nice mobile…….any one can buy it…there are so many options are there in this set…..good luck..

    Reply

    Anonymous Reply:

    @Pratibha, nice comments

    Reply

  5. Anas sajid Says:

    its a very beautiful handset

    Reply

  6. Георги Says:

    Кога ще влезе в България? (When this phone is in Bulgaria?)

    Reply

  7. edwin Says:

    what are the price my be in Tanzania?

    Reply

  8. Ruud Says:

    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.

    Reply

  9. Rizwan Says:

    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.

    Reply

  10. Razzi Says:

    How to change the default keyguard code in 1202? Can’t find any way to change :-(

    Reply

  11. nosa Idehen Says:

    the phone is not good….

    Reply

  12. Shalika Says:

    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 !!!

    Reply

  13. arif rauf Says:

    wao very god lookingmobile phone

    Reply

  14. Shweta Says:

    Hey there people .. can u please tell me ..wether da phone’s havin some kinda stopwatch, countdown timer & message counter…

    Post replies sooon
    thanks …..

    Reply

    dave Reply:

    yes Shweta, those features you mentioned are all available in 1202. i really love this fone for its simplicity, light weight and cheap price.

    Reply

  15. Jordanne GH Says:

    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

    Reply

  16. nancy Says:

    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?

    Reply

  17. JOHN Says:

    THE PEOPLES PHONE

    Reply

  18. JOHN Says:

    THE PEOPLES PAPER AND PHONE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL PHONES

    Reply

  19. yohanes Says:

    Buy Mokia 1202 $?TQ

    Reply

  20. Anonymous Says:

    I SAW A PONE 4 5 QUID SO THATS THE CHEAPEST

    Reply

  21. NOKIAFAN1 Says:

    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.

    Reply

  22. B.H shambu Says:

    Thanks for nokia releasing cheapest moblie, good looking set ever.

    Reply

  23. Anonymous Says:

    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.

    Reply

  24. Paul Says:

    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.

    Reply

    Paul Reply:

    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.

    Reply

  25. muzz Says:

    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

    Reply

  26. Anonymous Says:

    i’m going to buy one tomorrow, thanks nokia for the very nice and low cost phone built!!

    Reply

  27. Karya Says:

    Really good one for the price. I bought one yesterday after reading this article.

    Reply

  28. Troy Says:

    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

    Reply

  29. Raju Lal Gurjar Says:

    yea, this is right, My friend Ved Prakash Ola, Dehradun which salary is Rs. 15000 but purchased this phone…….

    Reply

  30. Abhishek Says:

    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.

    Reply

2 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. Mobiele Telefoons » Nokia makes phone … Says:

    [...] makes phone that last up to 26days! http://bit.ly/g0sft Tags: fresh, [...]

  2. An open letter to Nokia from a former employee: kill Ovi, spin off the hardware unit, become a bank Says:

    [...] amount of power, comes an even greater sense of responsibility. No one else in the mobile space is trying to sell devices to a market of people who make less in a year than what you or I do in a single day. No one else in [...]

Post a comment

By pressing the submit button below, you agree to the site terms.

If you have a Care-related question, you should not direct your questions here. We’re not set up to provide support. Please visit these well established channels for helping you get your phone fixed and excellent discussion boards to get help online.
Nokia Support
Nokia Support Forums

N900 video extravaganza
Click for more Blogbites
The Almanac

Nokia Life Tools injects entertainment (video)

Help with education through Nokia Life Tools (video)

Nokia Life Tools has been tailored for Indonesian farmers

N900: Classic video game emulators -video

The Way We Live Next 3.0 in Espoo, Finland (interview video)

Video: Nokia Booklet 3G hits shelves in US

Recent Videos

Ways to follow us

youtube twitter delicious slideshare

Other Nokia sites on Twitter

nokia messaging Qt software nokia forum ideas project nokia flagship store nokia home base