Nokia - Ready to Touch Android Territory with Nokia X

Updates: All You Need to know about Nokia X, X+ and XL is at intouch247.net/nokia-x

Now that Nokia X, the first serious attempt from Nokia in the land of Android is only few days away to show off officially at MWC 2014, both excitement and questions from Nokia fans and tech lovers are raising.

Questions like why is Android so important for Nokia and/or for Microsoft? And why not attempting a high-end Android? In simple straight forward words - to survive the market competition without compromising high-end Lumia territory.

Update: According to new rumors, Nokia is to working on mid-end/high-end Android devices too but they will come later.

Nokia X is for low-end smartphone market, to stand against budget Android and other upcoming competition in that zone. But the current threat is the growing use of budget Androids in markets that matters.

The days are gone when budget Android phones suck the fun and life out of mobile users. Today's budget Android smart phones are worth owing because they don't suck anymore. Just to be clear I am not talking about Moto G budget, I am talking about China-made budget Androids that cost a lot less than a hundred dollars. They too have become very capable and most importantly they are priced lower than Nokia's lowest of Asha.

Budget Lumia and Asha are doing well in sales but it clearly isn't good enough. Lumia (or WindowsPhone) will success eventually but Lumia is not for low-end smart phones market and will never be.

The market Nokia is targeting with Asha is leaning back to new budget Androids. Those are the consumers switching either from feature phones or taking them to use as a secondary phone. Mobiles with Android Jellybean powered by dual core processor works very well without making users' life a hell like it used to several months ago. And why Android? Because Android packs a lot more attraction for consumers than Asha for the same or less price.

Companies like MicroMax sidelined big brands including Nokia and Samsung in India using that said attraction. Same trend has been happening in Pakistan by QMobile and Voice.

In Pakistan the lowest of Asha 500 is available for 8,000 Pakistani Rupees. In contrast a very capable dual-core Android phone cost 7,000 pkr. Prices of Asha 502 and 503 are above 10,500 pkr and in that price range even better Android phones are available that can play games like GTA.

I myself had to replace Asha 501 to a budget Android for 2 things. Price and productivity tools/apps. And I am very satisfied.

In short it is easier for young and new mobile users to ditch either budget Nokia Lumia or Asha for something ^better^ and ^cheaper^.

But are these budget Androids are as durable as Nokia? No. Are their build is as supreme as Nokias? Not always. Are their camera is as powerful as Nokias? Of course not. Are their resale value is as beneficial as Nokias? No. Are their touch screen as sensitive and fast as Nokias? Not at all. And these are the things that can help Nokia to win low-end smartphone consumers back.

Come back to price and Nokia's Android, rumored price of the first Android from Nokia is 110$, and it may go to sale for around 12,000 Pakistani rupees. Will that price do Nokia any good against Androids coming to 10,000 pkr? I think it should with the right advertising message.

Only draw back for Nokia X left is the apps. Lack of access to Play Store can give Nokia a hard time but luckily developers might not have to spend too much of extra efforts in getting their apps on to the new store.

To success, Nokia have to get this product 99% right to gain the consumers' trust. Nokia X better not be a beta test device for their sake and deliver best possible experience for the price.