Products & Services, Sustainability
Poll: what’s the most important feature in a low-cost phone for emerging markets?
By JBC on 05 November 2009
GLOBAL – New technology isn’t just the preserve of high end devices. Often, finding ways of making lower end devices cheaper and more functional is as big a challenge as coming up with the next ground-breaking smartphone. Delivering genuinely practical features is key to making devices for emerging markets. That, and making devices affordable ($5 phone anyone?). Nokia’s success around the globe is founded not only on breaking new ground with technology, but delivering genuinely practical features to the mass market affordably and effectively. This week’s poll seeks your views on what the most important features are for an emerging market device. We’ve listed the key suspects in the poll below, but feel free to add your own in the “others” box and tell us why in the comments.
Yesterday saw the announcement of five new emerging market devices, including the most affordable phone Nokia has ever produced. The €20 Nokia 1280 doesn’t skimp on functionality and comes loaded with useful features for those who live in remote or rural areas, where a speaking clock and flashlight are far more useful than Bluetooth or GPS.
With a further four low-cost mobiles joining the 1280 in the new year, Nokia has drawn attention to the benefit of no-frills practicality like never before.
So we thought we’d ask you to tell us what you think is the single most important feature in these ultra-affordable phones.
Related posts:
- Emerging markets devices – poll results
- What is the most important feature in a music phone?
- Nokia stories in emerging markets – what do you want to know?
Tags | Emerging markets
November 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
If I could vote twice, the second would be for anti-scratch covers. My 1100 is still going strong but the screen’s getting a bit impressionistic these days. If you buy a device like that, it’s quite possible you’ll still be using it long after any repair or replacement service for the cover is available, assuming one existed in the first place.
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November 5th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Same here i voted for dust resistance, but i would also vote for long battery life. I wouldn’t give anti-scratch covers importance as you can always get the covers replaced for cheap, if you buy from any third-party vendor.
Generally people who buy cheap phones can’t afford extra costs associated with phone and also most of the people’s lifestyle is that they would like a strong durable phone, which does not break/die due to drop/dust and also which lasts longer on a single charge.
Thats my 2 cents based on personal experiences several years ago when i couldn’t myself afford expensive phones.
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November 12th, 2009 at 1:59 am
I hate to keep harping on it, but everytime I see my stepdaughter or grandchild whip out their smartphone to respond to a text, I have to deal with the new reality. Without a qwerty keyboard capability, these are DOA to all but a very small market.
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