Nokia 3310 mobile phone relaunched

Nokia’s 3310 phone has been relaunched nearly 17
years after its debut.
Many consider the original handset iconic because of
its popularity and sturdiness. More than 126 million
were produced before it was phased out in 2005.
The revamped version will be sold under licence by the
Finnish start-up HMD Global, which also unveiled
several Nokia-branded Android smartphones.
One expert said it was a “fantastic way” to relaunch
Nokia’s phone brand.
“The 3310 was the first mass-market mobile and
there’s a massive amount of nostalgia and affection
for it,” commented Ben Wood from the technology
consultancy CCS Insight.
“If HMD had just announced three Android devices
they would have barely got a couple of column inches
in the press.
“So, the 3310 is a very clever move and we expect it
will sell in significant volumes.”
The announcement was made ahead of the start of the
Mobile World Congress tech show in Barcelona. LG,
Huawei and Lenovo are among others to have unveiled
new devices.
Nokia no longer makes phones itself, but manufactures
telecoms equipment, Ozo virtual reality cameras, and
health kit under the Withings brand.
The new 3310 qualifies as a “feature phone” rather
than a smartphone as it only provides limited internet
facilities.
It relies on 2.5G connectivity – which has slower data
speeds than 3G or 4G – and is powered by the S30+
operating system, which allows web browsing but has
a much smaller range of apps than Android or iOS. Its
single camera is also restricted to two megapixels.
However, its advantage over more powerful handsets is
its battery life. HMD says the colour-screened phone
has up to a month’s standby time and delivers more
than 22 hours of talk time.
It also comes with the modern version of the classic
game Snake preinstalled.
Its launch price is €49 ($51,75; £41.51).
“It’s almost like a digital detox or a holiday phone,”
HMD’s chief executive Arto Nummela told the BBC.
“If you want to switch off to an extent but you still
need to have a [mobile] lifeline, it’s a brilliant solution.
“Why wouldn’t you buy this like candy? If you see this
hanging on the shelf at the checkout in a [see-
through] package, then you’d just buy it as an
accessory.”
HMD also confirmed the Nokia 6 Android smartphone
would be released worldwide following its China debut
in January.
The device has a 16 megapixel rear camera, a 5.5in
(14cm) 1080p “full definition” screen and includes the
Google Assistant helper – the search engine’s rival to
Apple’s Siri.
It is priced as a mid-tier device at €229, alongside a
glossy black special edition that costs €299.
In addition, the firm showed off smaller, lower-range
Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 models.
Taiwan’s Foxconn will manufacture the phones, which
may offset concerns that networks might have about
HMD’s capacity to deliver.
“Foxconn – with its experience working with Apple and
Samsung – is certainly the standout device
manufacturer,” commented Tim Coulling from the tech
research firm Canalys.
“It’s ability to help HMD go from small to large scale
will be a critical factor in their partnership.
“It also means if HMD wants to locate manufacturing
in different regions to take advantage of pockets of
demand, that’s something Foxconn will allow them to
achieve.”
However, another market watcher said HMD’s success
was far from guaranteed.
“Resurrecting one of Nokia’s feature phone bestsellers
seems like a good beachhead to attack the
smartphone market.
“But another part of Nokia’s heritage was its high-end
devices.
“What HMD needs next is a higher-end [Android
smartphone] that is different, and that’s always a
problem with Android: how do you differentiate?
“Nokia’s brand will get them so far – especially in
emerging markets – but trying to push into the high-
end versus Apple, Samsung or even Huawei will be
tough.”


SOURCE.. NEW TELEGRAPH