At a time when top of the line smartphones are the most trendy gadgets you can own, it’s refreshing to see the new Nokia 207 & 208 as additions to the budget mobile phone segment.
Now don’t get me wrong, I still love the feature packed, super high resolution and battery sucking smartphones like the iPhone 5 & Samsung S4. The thing is, I also like what Nokia have done to blend together the old school sturdiness that made them so popular in the past, with newer technology that so many of us simply can’t live without anymore.
Who Is It For?
When so many of us now own or want smartphones, the simple question for Nokia would be why release a budget phone (set to be priced at approximately £45 GBP) when the growing trend is towards the feature packed powerhouses?
According to Timo Toikkanen, Executive Vice President of Mobile Phones at Nokia:
[quote]The Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 are designed for people who like a classic phone and traditional keypad but don’t want to miss out on smartphone experiences, like staying connected to social media and accessing the Internet[/quote]See more at: http://bit.ly/17W4Ncw
I’d go a step further and say that the low-end pricing and available features will be a good entry-level phone for younger users, as well as the older generations looking for a simpler, more robust phone.
The features on the Nokia 207 & 208 also meet the needs of those who may want a replacement phone for a night out, a secondary workhorse to get them through the day or simply an emergency option for when their battery dies.
Budget Price but Still Packs A Punch
To make these budget mobile phones a more efficient secondary device, Nokia also made the decision to use micro-SIMs so that you can quickly and easily change them between your smartphone.
Although there may not be all the bells and whistles we’ve grown used to, the Nokia 207 & 208 both include Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp as standard; so you’ll never be disconnected from your social life. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of talktime on a 2G connection, and 4.5 hours on 3G.
More importantly though, full Mail app support for Exchange means that you can synchronise your contacts and calendar; making it a more than capable work phone too.
Adding to that, the Internet Sharing feature will be a saving grace should you ever find yourself searching for that nearest Wi-Fi signal. The budget Nokia phones allow you to share your 3G internet connection so that you always have access on your laptop or portable device.
Summary
They may not be the prettiest of devices but considering the solid build quality, camera (on the 208), Internet Sharing, social media apps and synchronised email functionality wrapped in to a low-end budget phone; I’d say it definitely deserves some consideration.
How would YOU use a budget mobile phone like the new Nokia 207 & 208? Let us know in the comments below.
