AN image that never escapes the memory is that of Jesus Christ with one hand balancing the wooden cross on his shoulder and the other holding a cellular phone. As he drags himself to “Calvary,” he pounds on the keypad, answering a deluge of SMS and, at a certain point, excuses himself from the procession to answer an urgent call, not from God the Father or Judas the traitor but from his wife, screaming because he forgot to buy milk for the newborn.

Of course, we’re referring to a Filipino flagellant in a Southern Tagalog province during the observance of Holy Week.

We are reminded again of this redeeming image when we saw a Buddhist monk answering a call in his cellular phone, on one of the busiest streets in Hanoi almost a week ago, when Nokia launched its four new mobile-phone products for emerging markets.

Dubbed “Progressing Together,” the event was held at the Intercontinental Westlake Hotel, gathering various media representatives from Southeast Asian countries and Nokia executives.

The four new Nokia handset models, with an expected retail-market price ranging between $78 to $140, target the replacement buyers, or those who seek to replace their units with more advanced models. 

“More than 1 billion people worldwide currently use a Nokia device and in recent years, the majority of first-time buyers have come from the emerging markets like Vietnam,” said Chris Carr, vice president for sales, Southeast Asia-Pacific, Nokia.

He also pointed out how extensive research led Nokia to launch the new products specifically for the emerging markets. He said, “Our designers understand that mobile phones should satisfy the emotions as well as functional needs. Style, technology, ease of use and affordability must be combined well.”

He introduced the four new models starting with the Nokia 5000, which combines 1.3-megapixel camera, two-inch high-resolution QVGA display, FM radio with recording functionality and MP3 ringtones. Its key features include e-mail support and other essential benefits like Nokia Xpress audio messaging, Bluetooth and GPRS connectivity. It will be available worldwide in the second quarter of 2008. Next was the Nokia 2680, touted as the first slider handset for entry markets. It is a slim camera phone that has FM radio with recording capability, MP3 ringtones and core mobile-phone features like a 1,000-entry phone book. With the Nokia 2680, subscribers can capture and share precious moments or important photos via e-mail. It comes in four colors: slate gray, night blue, orange and violet. This model will be shipped worldwide in the third quarter of the year.

The Nokia 7070 is described as stylish, perfect for gimmick-loving dudes. It comes in a folding design, with geometric patterns and external light effects. It targets people who like to express their individuality through their mobile phones, those who want to stand out in the crowd. This model also offers personalized content, themes, wallpapers and MP3-grade ringtones. It has a voice recorder and integrated hands-free speaker. The handset will be available also in the third quarter of 2008.

The Nokia 1680 classic will be the most affordable camera phone—with video capture and playback—once it hits the stores in the second quarter of 2008, priced at $80. It offers classic essential phone functionality with the added benefits of a basic digital camera. For families and small businesses, this model offers phone-sharing functionality and easy access to e-mail. Carr also predicted that Nokia 1680 will suit best the first-time user.

Jawahar Kanjilal, global head of emerging market services, predicted that by 2009 there will be 4 billion mobile-phone subscribers around the world, comprising 80 languages. The majority of that growth will come from Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, India and Latin America.

He said, “You’re all familiar with ‘Connecting People’ motto. It’s more than a marketing slogan. It really defines our corporate mission and in many markets here in Southeast Asia, connecting people has, in turn, helped in improving the lives of tens of millions of people. It’s been more than five years since Nokia entered the emerging markets. We continue to see exponential growth. As our new slogan says, ‘We progress together.’”

Indeed, even “Jesus Christ” and “Buddha” will avail themselves of wireless connectivity and spread the good news.

Four for the emerging markets

AN image that never escapes the memory is that of Jesus Christ with one hand balancing the wooden cross on his shoulder and the other holding a cellular phone.

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