Nokia taps retro design again releasing banana-styled slider smartphone
Nokia has played on nostalgia again at Mobile World Congress with the unveiling of a retro styled slider smartphone and a flagship Android device which it claims is impossible to bend by hand.
Nokia trails ‘unbendable’ and slider smartphone retro releases
In both name and substance the Nokia 8110 echoes its 1990s stablemate with a slide-to-answer calls extension in a follow-up to last year’s surprise hit the, retro styled 3310 feature phone. Updating the design, it comes armed with 4G connectivity and all the latest social media platforms and apps.
Nicknamed the banana phone courtesy of its screaming yellow curved style it will retail for just £69 (or $97).
Those hankering after a high-end experience can look to the Nokia 8 Sirocco which boasts a reinforced steel chassis that renders it immune from day to day abuse. The Nokia branded handsets form part of a family of five devices; including the Nokia 6, Nokia 1 and Nokia 7 Plus, all manufactured by Finnish start-up HMD Global with the Sirocco set to launch this April for £659.
Florian Seiche, chief executive of HMD Global, said: “This time last year, we started our journey with huge expectations from fans and a massive responsibility to deliver on the legacy of one of the most innovative brands in our space. Since then we have reintroduced well-loved icons, forged partnerships with friends old and new and delivered our pure, secure and up-to-date Android experience across our smartphone portfolio. Last year we shipped over 70 million Nokia phones."
Nokia's revival follows a decision by Microsoft to withdraw from the smartphone industry.
This month’s issue of The Drum magazine focuses on the mobile sector with insights on the democratisation of photography and interview with US recording artist Ryan Leslie who shared his personal mobile number with the world to help his fan engagement and a look at the longevity of the low-cost smartphone market in China and India. Buy your copy of this issue and other copies through The Drum website.