Nokia has launched new multi-SIM devices in the Indian market, in a belated embrace of a device category that it has shunned for nearly two years.
We believe that this move is a validation of the category and is targeted at the wider emerging market opportunity.
Indian device vendors such as Micromax and Spice should take note and plan for deeper integration of services and expansion into international markets.
Last week Nokia announced the Indian launch of a new line of multi-SIM handsets that are aimed at emerging markets.
The C1 and C2 lines boast multi-SIM functionality, double-SIM in the case of the C1 and dual-SIM in the case of the C2. The main distinguishing factor is the ability to have both SIM cards activated simultaneously.
The C1, priced at $40, is targeted at the entry-level voice and SMS segment, and will come with entry-level features such as FM radio and flashlight. The C2, priced at $50, comes equipped with dual-SIM functionality and also features access to Ovi Mail, Chat, and services such as Nokia Life Tools.
The C1 is based on the Series 30 platform and the C2 on Series 40.
Nokia’s embrace of multi-SIM is definitely late in the game, and follows similar launches of dual-SIM phones from LG and Samsung.
In India, multi-SIM handsets have been around for a couple of years but have only gained traction in the last year, with significant share shifts in the entry-level segment away from Nokia to the Indian brands that pioneered this segment, such as Micromax and Spice.