Business

Nokia ups market visibility with new smartphones

Jo Ann Sablad

FINNISH company HMD Global, the maker of Nokia phones, launched three new Android smartphones, upping the brand's visibility in the Philippine market.

In a one-on-one interview with SunStar Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, April 24, HMD Global Philippines Country Manager Shannon Mead introduced three new additions to their portfolio of Android smart phones: the new Nokia 6; Nokia 1; and Nokia 7 Plus, the company's flagship smart phone.

Alongside the Android smart phones is the revamp of the legendary Nokia 8110, the iconic slider phone featured in The Matrix, into 4G.

"Last year for us is about building our brand and we've caused one to introduce the Android devices, but we know the 3310 stole the show everywhere we went. So, I think now we got a good balance of products," Mead said.

Ensuring a pure, secure, and up-to-date experience, the brand's Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6 and Nokia 1 are all running on the latest Android operating system, Anroid Oreo; while Nokia 8110 4G runs on Smart Feature OS powered by KaiOS.

Available in the Philippine market on Friday, April 27, for P21,990, is the Nokia 7 Plus, a top choice for bloggers and vloggers as it comes with an enhanced ,Dual-Sight, dual rear sensors with ZEISS optics combine an ultra-sensitive 12 megapixels (MP) wide-angle primary camera and a secondary 13MP camera.

It also has a 16MP front camera, also with ZEISS optics, good for low-light conditions. A camera perfect for selfies, groufies and even the ultimate "bothie," a feature wherein both the front and rear cameras can be used to take photos and videos simultaneously.

To be released in May 14 is the new Nokia 6, a revamp version of its predecessor which offers an enhanced Dual-Sight, ZEISS optics, USB-C fast-charging, a more compact screen-to-body ratio with a diamond-cut edges and Nokia spatial audio.

Already on sale in the market as of last week is the Nokia 1, a phone which Mead recommended for first-time phone users and children.

Giving a nostalgic feel, Nokia 1 comes with exchangeable covers, the Xpress-on covers, giving the users the ability to give their phone a make-over through picking from the assorted vibrant-colored covers.

Further taking the phone users down the memory lane, HMD Global also brought in the reloaded version of Nokia 8110, known as the Matrix phone or the "banana phone" due to its curved protective cover, which will hit the stores this May.

Now in 4G, Nokia 8110 users will have access to an app store for their favorites like Google Search, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and among others. The phone also comes with a revamp version of Snake.

"Our presence in the Philippines is actually only one year and the smartphone sale is 8 or 9 months. So, we've actually already achieved a lot and we got a long way to go. But its promising signs to start," Mead said.

HMD Global is a company that develops and markets smartphones and feature phones under the Nokia brand.

THREAT. According to a Capitol consultant, the Cebu City Government is threatening to shut down the Cebu North Bus Terminal at the back of SM City Cebu (left) and the Cebu South Bus Terminal along N. Bacalso Ave. for operating without a business permit. The Province, which runs both terminals, maintains that it operates the facilities as a public service for passengers going to the province and vice versa. /

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