Nokia has decided to keep low-cost smartphones in rotation, with the announcement of the Asha 210. The Asha 210 is a QWERTY phone designed to target those who love physical keyboards, as the device closely resembles HTC’s ChaCha and Salsa handsets. And much like the two HTC offerings, Nokia has embedded a dedicated social button. The only difference is the Finnish phone maker is offering distinct versions of the phone in certain regions of the world.
For example, Asha 210 will bring Facebook integration to Europe and Latin America (similar to the Asha 205), while users in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa will get Nokia’s new WhatsApp button. Nokia claims it’s the first device to offer such functionality.
Customers who buy the phone will get to take advantage of Nokia’s unique partnership with WhatsApp, as owners of the Asha 210 get to use the popular messaging app free for the life of the handset.
This low range device doesn’t carry the most impressive specs. Features include a 2-megapixel camera that is accessed by a dedicated hard key, with a self-portrait and fast editing photo feature that’s supposed to improve camera performance. The phone will also come with a feature called Slam — which allows users to wirelessly share contacts and media over a Bluetooth connection.
Nokia Asha 210 is hitting the market at a crazy affordable price of $72 (USD). The handset will come in Nokia’s standard color options of yellow, cyan, black, magenta, and white — it’s expected to start shipping later this quarter of 2013.
[via Nokia]