Nokia 216 Release Date: Dual-Sim Phone Specs, Price, And Where to Buy
The Nokia 216 release date is being anticipated as the Microsoft company recently announced that they have a brand new feature phone on the way for consumers. The phone, which will be on sale in India next month, is considered basic in nature. The Verge website reported on Monday that the new Nokia phone features a 2.4-inch QVGA display, front and rear 0.3-megapixel cameras, headphone jack, and the Series 30 operating system including the Opera mini browser.
The phone is featured on Microsoft’s website with an in-depth look at what their latest item offers. It’s billed as best for browsing the internet, taking and viewing pictures, playing videos, and gaming. Basically, all of the typical uses people enjoy with smartphones today but in a more basic phone. It features dual-SIM card capability as well and a 1,020 mAH battery inside.
Microsoft launches Nokia 216 Dual SIM feature phone: Will Nokia rise back to power again? https://t.co/gAN6h2gPvl #Nokia216 pic.twitter.com/BzfuOXEiqx
— PC-Tablet (@pctabletin) September 21, 2016
Among the promoted phone features are a free Gameloft game once a month for a year, FM Radio, MP3 player, built-in flashlight, and a battery that touts up to 18 hours of talk time or 24 days standby time. In addition, the phone is said to have storage for as many as 2,000 contacts. The phone also can accommodate a microSDHC storage card, with a Nokia brand item promoted on Microsoft’s website.
The previous version of the phone, the 215, was released back in the first quarter of 2015. It was available only in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Among its features were pre-loaded Facebook and Twitter apps, the Opera Mini web browser, Bing, MSN Weather, and more. The newest version will continue with the tradition of Microsoft producing Nokia phones with rumors the company will bring a Surface phone next year.
The International Business Times indicates there had been reports back in May of this year that Microsoft was planning to sell off their phone business to FIH Mobile for $350 million. However, that deal has yet to close, and Microsoft has just announced their newest phone. Should the deal be finalized, all of Microsoft’s phone assets would transfer to FIH including the Nokia brand.
As mentioned, Microsoft plans to stay in the mobile phone game even once it closes the deal with FIH. There have been rumors about the Surface phone for months now, with talk of it including the Windows 10 operating system, a fingerprint scanner, and other nifty features. Basically, Microsoft will be doing its best to stay in competition with the likes of Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy series of smartphones.
For those wondering why the company is releasing such a basic phone like the Nokia 216 in the world of smartphones, it has to due to its popularity in emerging markets. Mashable reports via market firm Counterpoint Research that there are currently 450 million feature phones being used in India. That’s 200 million more than the number of smartphones reportedly in use.
So what will the Nokia phone’s price be? According to Tech Radar, the Nokia 216 will sell for Rs. 2,495 in India which comes out to about $33 in the United States. The official release date for the country is said to be October 24. That date is one week ahead of India’s Diwali festival. That could give a serious boost to sales as the traditions of the festival involve the exchange of gifts among family and friends.
It should be interesting to see how much of a hit this latest gadget released by Microsoft will be as some have even gone so far as to call it a “dumb phone” due to its very basic nature. However, many people in the country seem like they will opt for its simplicity over the advanced models being released in the United States. Sometimes, keeping things simple works best.
[Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
