Nokia partners Facebook to launch new Asha phones

By Ibrahim Olukotun

Lagos. December 7, 2012: Nokia has partnered with Facebook to introduce a built-in Facebook button on its new Nokia Asha 205.

The Nokia Asha 205 is the first Nokia phone that has a dedicated Facebook button, designed for people who want the fastest, one-click access to popular features of the social networking site.

The phone maker describes the new brand as the ultimate social phone with a QWERTY keyboard.

Also launched was Nokia 206 which has almost the same features as Nokia Asha 205 and both are available in single and dual SIM models.

The dual SIM model features Nokia’s exclusive EasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device.

The Nokia Asha 205 and Nokia 206 are the first mobile devices to have Nokia’s exclusive Slam feature allowing consumers to share multimedia content like photos and videos with nearby friends almost instantly.

Slam works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones without the need to pair devices and without the recipient needing to also have Slam.

In just a few clicks, people can ‘Slam’ their contents to another device faster than with Bluetooth alone and without consuming Internet data, Nokia says.

Speaking during the signing of the partnership, Javier Olivan, Head of Growth, Engagement and Mobile for Facebook, notes that as people around the world increasingly use Facebook Mobile to connect and share with friends, it becomes imperative for the company to offer more flexible platforms for sharing among friends.

“We are focused on delivering the best Facebook experience to as many people as possible and our partnership with Nokia perfectly complements our strategy of giving people around the world a rich Facebook experience for keeping in touch with their friends,” he adds.

Similarly, Timo Toikkanen, Executive Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia adds that the partnership could not have come at a better time than this when the social-savvy youths clamour to share experiences with friends on the go.

“Globally, young consumers have increasingly started using Facebook for socializing, keeping in touch and striking new friendships. The launch of the Nokia Asha 205 responds to this growing demand and gives them a unique option for accessing Facebook while on-the-go”, he adds.

“We have seen that many people who use Nokia Asha devices are hyper-social and we are proud to partner with Facebook to improve the user experience of those consumers further with the introduction of the Facebook button.”

People using the Nokia Asha 205 can also easily access other Facebook features, such as sharing photos and status updates with their friends, so they can stay close to the people around them with the touch of a button, the phone makers says.

The new Nokia product has the following features: eBuddy screen notifications that keep users up-to-the-minute on new conversations, the free Nokia Life+ web app, including the Life Skills and Live Healthy services, a comprehensive mobile entertainment package, including 40 free EA Games available for download, along with tens of thousands of other apps available from the Nokia Store, great standby time: up to 37 days with single SIM and up to 25 days with dual SIM.

The Nokia Asha 205 is available in cyan, magenta and orange colours and is expected to start shipping before the end of the year.

Nokia prides itself as a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another, the company says.