Nokia rounds out phones with ultra-budget models
updated 11:35 am EDT, Thu May 3, 2007
Nokia 1200 and 1208
Completing its series of phone announcements for the developing world, Nokia on Thursday morning wrapped up with some of its lowest-cost phones ever. The 1200 and 1208 alike serve villages and other areas where even owning a cellphone by itself is difficult. Either phone shares the call timer from the 1650 for cost-sensitive owners as well as small phone carriers that may want to parcel out very basic phone plans. The two also have a multi-user phonebook that keeps separate contacts for up to five people; this lets whole families share a phone without mixing each other's phone lists, Nokia says.
As with other phones targeted at the most remote edges of cellphone service, the two candybar designs also have a flashlight, a tutorial mode for helping first-time owners learn their devices, and a dustproof keypad area that stays clean in particularly harsh climates.
The 1200 and 1208 are separated only by displays, according to their creator. A monochrome screen helps the 1200 reach the especially low price of $48, while the 1208 gains a color VGA display for the slightly higher price of $54. As with all the other handsets listed today by Nokia, both should also be in the market later in the spring.
1208
