Continuing with its efforts to regain lost market and loyalty in different geographies, HMD Global, a Finland based firm which now owns Nokia device business has introduced a 3G version of Nokia 3310. According to a statement from company, a Nokia 3310 3G version has been launched and will be available from October 16 via Optus and Vodafone mobile carriers in Australia. Some reports also suggest that same is being launched today in Singapore. Just to bring back the nostalgic Nokia 3310 which dominated the mobile phone market when smart was not added to a phone, HMD Global launched Nokia 3310 in a retro designed in February this year with 2G capability aimed at reaching out to all Nokia 3310 lovers.
Market in India and emerging markets are predominately dominated by 2G but aspiration of consumers and operators are always to move to 3G, 4G and 5G. Also, in some market like India where fledgling entrant like Reliance Jio has completely changed the game and some of the lessons in competition and innovations are freely available to device makers and telecom operators, it seems HMD Global introduction of new Nokia 3310 3G from Nokia 3310 2G is a step in right direction because nobody wants to buy a 2G phone for above Rs 1500 ($23). Remember, Nokia 3310 2G was priced at Rs 3491 and 3G version has been priced at about Rs 5000.
No doubt, 3G connectivity feature gives the phone an edge over other feature phones which only have 2G but for a lay marketer HMD Global impetus on Nokia 3310 series is more about recapturing some of the nostalgia around the Nokia brand rather than serious business case. Reading more into it should not only be an exaggeration but a fallacy as not many Indian would shell out around Rs 5000 ($89.95) for a 3G phone with limited functionality, rather they would explore budget smartphone segment.
What was there in Nokia 3310 2G
Nokia 3310 2G which was launched in February 2017 came with a 2.40-inch display with a resolution of 240 pixels by 320 pixels. Priced at Rs. 3,491, the phone packed 16MB of internal storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. It had a 2-megapixel primary camera on the rear and was powered by a 1200mAh removable battery. It was a dual micro GSM phone with connectivity options of Bluetooth and FM.
What is new in Nokia 3310 3G
Everything more or less remain same, however, there is improvement in the 3G version. The Nokia 3310 3G comes with a customisable UI. It runs Feature OS, which is powered by Java. Among other things, the internal memory gets an upgrade – it has 64GB internal memory, which can be expanded to 32GB with a microSD card.
Connectivity options apart from 3G support include a micro USB port (USB 2.0), 3.5mm audio jack and Bluetooth 2.1, the Nokia 3310 launched earlier in February had features Bluetooth 3.0 with SLAM. Apart from usual web surfing, the phone also offers Facebook and Twitter connectivity. Nokia 3310 3G will be available in both single-SIM and dual-SIM options.
Should you buy Nokia 3310 3G?
Should you buy or not? You should only if you are Nokia buff, else there far better options available in ever expanding budget segment with improved battery life, UI, processor and camera. As India's ex-finance minister Yashwant Sinha put it yesterday, “bluff and bluster is fine for the hustings, it evaporates in the face of reality,” so money wise, be wise.
