Nokia markets Asian phones

Nokia markets Asian phones

SINGAPORE (AFP): Finnish telecommunications group Nokia Corp. is to start selling this month a new cellular phone specifically designed for, and sold only, in the booming Asia-Pacific market, company officials said yesterday.

The compact Nokia 3810, offering display texts in simplified or traditional Chinese, Thai, Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, was designed with the preferences of Asian users in mind -- including very loud ringing tones.

"We expect it to be very well taken throughout the Asia- Pacific markets," said Nokia spokeswoman Suguna Madhavan. "We undertook customer preference studies across the markets and incorporated all the feedback."

Nokia studies showed Asians prefer small, lightweight phones with long operating times. The 3810 will have large display windows with jumbo characters for easy reading. It will be equipped to receive messages in Asian texts using the short messaging system now being offered by regional carriers.