HMD trademarks "Asha", Nokia's former feature phone line

2021-12-22

HMD just trademarked “Asha” with the EU Intellectual Property Office. Nokia Asha phones, for those who don’t remember them, were a lineup of feature phones that often featured a touchscreen and a focus on online services – Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Asha phones offered smartphone-like functionality at a time when actual smartphones were too pricey. That made them a key element of Nokia’s “next billion” plan. We don’t think that HMD will go the feature phone route, however. For one, the new application specifically mentions that “Asha” can be used for smartphones.

Also Google and Micromax are even planning a $32 Android Go phone, so price is no longer an argument. HMD itself might be working on an Android Go phone, the Nokia 1. So the new Nokia Asha lineup may be home to low-cost Android Go handsets with a dose of nostalgia.

Source | Via