Nokia has officially launched the Nokia Asha 501 smartphone, the first of its kind to run on the new Asha Platform, in East Africa. With its distinctive Nokia design, enhanced user interface, and smarter Internet experiences, the Asha 501 offers a range of features at an affordable price.

Consumers across East Africa can now purchase the Asha 501 in three vibrant colors—black, red, and yellow—from various retailers. The recommended retail prices are as follows:

  • Kenya: KES 7,999
  • Uganda: UGX 279,900
  • Tanzania: TZs 179,900

Bruce Howe, the general manager of Nokia East Africa, expressed his excitement about the new Nokia Asha 501, highlighting its ability to provide users with quick access to their favorite features through a simple swipe. He emphasized the smartphone's stylish design, innovation, and affordability, reinforcing Nokia's commitment to offering striking smartphones tailored to the needs of the youth in East Africa.

The Nokia Asha 501 boasts standout colors and a sleek design. Comprising just two parts—a durable, removable shell and a scratch-resistant tempered glass display—it offers both durability and elegance. Weighing only 98 grams, it is exceptionally lightweight and portable.

The user interface of the Nokia Asha 501 is fast and intuitive. Users can navigate through the phone with a simple swipe, enabling them to unlock the device, close applications, and switch between the Home and Fastlane screens effortlessly. The Home screen features a traditional application launcher, while Fastlane, the second screen, displays recent activity and upcoming events, facilitating efficient multitasking. Additionally, Fastlane integrates seamlessly with popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, enabling users to post directly from within the Fastlane interface.

Instant access to apps and online content is a key feature of the Nokia Asha 501. The smartphone comes pre-loaded with the Nokia Xpress Browser, which compresses Internet data by up to 90%, resulting in faster and more affordable mobile browsing. It also offers a range of pre-installed social apps like Facebook and Twitter, popular chat services including Line, Nimbuzz, and WeChat, and access to 40 free EA games such as Plants vs. Zombies. Users can further expand their app collection through the Nokia Store, which offers a variety of free apps and games, including the highly acclaimed HERE Maps and the newly introduced Nokia Xpress Now content discovery web app.

"We are particularly excited about the availability of HERE Maps for the Asha 501," added Howe. He emphasized that East African consumers would benefit greatly from HERE's accurate and comprehensive mapping and navigation services, enhancing the overall user experience of the Nokia Asha 501.