Microsoft introduces the Nokia 216 phones in Kenya

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Despite the technological leaps in the world of cell phones, there’s a major need for production of feature phones, especially in Kenya. Smartphone companies should stop for a moment and think about the Kenyan market, besides calling, texting, browsing and what-not, some Kenyans just need a simple cell phone just for calling and MPESA services. Microsoft is just about to launch just the ideal phone for the job. 

The Nokia 216 and Nokia 216 Dual SIM will become available in Kenya on November 2016. Expect this to be among the last feature phones from Microsoft. FIH Mobile Ltd., a subsidiary of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group, and HMD Global Oy will be taking over Nokia’s production of entry-level feature phones as from next year. That is the earliest that this 350 million dollar deal is expected to be complete. The phones will be available in blue and grey, have a memory card support of up to 32GB and will store up to 2000 contacts.

The phones will have Internet connectivity, and users can download apps from the Opera app store. There will be two cameras, front and back. Price in Kenya is expected to range between 3500-4000. The device will pose competition to the Orange Kaduda Smart distributed by Telkom Kenya. With the entry of this device, Kenyans will be spoilt for choice.

Full Specifications

Dimensions

118.0×50.02×13.5mm weighing 84g battery included

Memory

Micro SD card support up to 32GB

Connectivity

Bluetooth 3.0 with HSP/HFP profile and SLAM

900/1800 MHz, micro USB, 3.5mm AV connector

Camera

Front camera: VGA with LED flash

Primary camera: VGA with LED flash

Standby and Talk time

Standby time: up to 19 days for Dual SIM and up to 24 days for Single SIM

Up to 18 hours talk time

Battery

1020mAh BL-5C battery

Display

2.4-inch QVGA (240*320)

Operating system

Nokia Series 30+

Reliability

Microsoft’s insistence on the production of the Nokia 216 means that there is still a market for these entry level feature phones in the country despite the dominance of local carriers such as Telkom Kenya and Safaricom. It is hard to make a case for this device, but if it is still the old Nokia we all know and love, we should expect a better performance and overall reliability compared to similarly priced phones in the country. Actually, most of the available phones in this category deliver a less than desirable cell phone performance for Kenyans.

Price and availability

In a statement on 23rd September 2016, Microsoft East Africa confirmed that the Nokia 216 Dual and single SIM will be available in Kenya as from November 2016. Price in Kenya is expected to be around 34 dollars, factor in the instability of the Kenyan shilling against the US$; the device should cost you about ksh.3500.  

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