Best of 2008, Products & Services
Best of 2008 in Products – Nokia 1202
By Mike on 31 December 2008
NEW DELHI, India – Polar opposite to the other two handsets we picked as Best of 2008 in Products (the E71 and 5800 XpressMusic), the Nokia 1202 shook things up and innovated without breaking the technology barrier, much like Nokia Life Tools in the Services stakes.
No, instead here is a handset that ignited a hugely positive global response because it was proof that a company could build and sell an extremely capable device tailored to the needs of local communities in emerging markets for a relatively tiny cost – at 25 Euros, the Nokia 1202 is the cheapest phone Nokia has ever created. But perhaps even more significant was the fact that it was made to be shared by up to five people, as it features multiple phone books and time and pre-paid tracker, so if bought by a group in a small community it becomes a 5 Euro phone.
Similarly, the Nokia 1202 illustrates how acutely Nokia is devoted to targeting the mobile needs of very specific users all over the planet – in this case people who need their phone battery to have incredible stamina, as charging it can often require taking the device to a local town with an electricity supply. With this in mind the 1202 was developed to be able to deliver standby time of up to 26 days and talk time of up to 9 hours.
This handset also warrants recognition in our Best of 2008 list, because it represents an approach and an ideal that Nokia is committed to echoing in other areas of its business, from its commitment to research and Jan Chipchase’s local human behavioral studies in relation to mobile technology, to the environment and recycling, and services such as Nokia Life Tools.
So here’s to the Nokia 1202.
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December 31st, 2008 at 11:55 am
Nokia hardware with Android software would be a marriage made in heaven.
In 2009, HTC, Samsung, Garmin, Sony Ericsson, Huawei, Motorola, Asus, LG, Kogan and others plan to release Android devices. Who knows? We may even see an Android netbook in 2009.
Come on Nokia! Android is open source. Port your Ovi services to it and, if you want, tailor the UI for a Nokia look-and-feel. You are a leader. Get over the “not invented here” obstacle and start working with the Android community to really make Android sing!
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December 31st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The funny thing about the 1202 is that for its target users it represents a much better choice than any (smart)phone.
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January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 am
@ Renegade I totally agree with you. Even me, I own a Nokia E65 and a 2610, and believe, the 2610 is far more liable than the E65!
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