Having suffered at the hands of Apple and RIM due to the lack of attractive smartphones, Nokia has made plain its intention to regain the initiative by expanding its very limited range of smartphones into the low-end, and including touchscreen capabilities.
Accepting that the Nokia E71 and 5800 XpressMusic have proved to be successful smartphones with each reported to be shipping more than a million units per month, Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, has stated the company now “intends to expand it portfolio by offering smartphones at lower prices to reach more consumers.”
Evidence this move is already underway comes from Taiwan with reports claiming Nokia has placed capacitive panel orders with Wintek and is considering the same with Synaptics - both local hi-technology firms.
Wintek already supplies the resistive touchscreens used by the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, with the latest reports from Taiwan claiming to expect more touchscreen devices to be announced by Nokia before the end of June.
Other sources maintain Nokia placed rush orders for cell phone components in March and has actively resumed product development projects.
Nokia has resisted the adoption of capacitive touch for its lack of support for Asian-character handwriting recognition, a desirable function in Asian markets.
Nokia yesterday unveiled three new entry-level smartphones - Nokia 2730 classic, Nokia 2720 fold and Nokia 7020. Each is “internet-ready” and would work with Nokia's emerging market services such as Nokia Life Tools and Ovi Mail, Nokia said.
For more on this story: Unwired View and Slash Gear