The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is the latest phone to lay claim to be an iPhone killer. However, Nokia might be on to something with its first ever touchscreen phone as it comes with around 5 million tracks from all major music labels and most independent labels as part of Nokia’s “Comes with Music” program.
The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic comes in three colours: black, red, and blue. As for its specs, this beauty features a gorgeous 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen with a built-in automatic orientation sensor (accelerometer), a resolution of 640 x 360 and ratio of 16:9. It also features a powerful 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash, 3D image engine, GPS, WiFi, and a microSD slot with support for 16GB cards.
A major selling point of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is its competitive price which is about half the price of other mainstream touchscreen phones.
“The price and positioning of the product may result in substantial demand and will undoubtedly put some pressure on Apple,” said Ben Wood, research head at CCS Insight.
The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will sell for €279 euros ($395) excluding subsidies and taxes. The price means the phone will most likely be free when customers sign a contract with operators.
And according to Strategy Analytics’ David MacQueen, Apple has something to worry about, “In a market where price and selection are so much more important than brand to consumers, Apple cannot count on retaining users when competing with an offering which seems free to the end user.”
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Affordable Touchscreen Phones
- The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic's competitive price may disrupt the market by offering an affordable alternative to mainstream touchscreen phones.
- Music Streaming Programs
- Nokia's 'Comes with Music' program, which offers 5 million tracks, presents an opportunity for other smartphone manufacturers to create similar music streaming services.
- Price-driven Consumer Preferences
- In a market where price and selection are key factors, Apple and other high-end smartphone brands must adapt to meet consumer demand for more affordable options.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Telecommunications
- The telecommunications industry can capitalize on the trend of affordable touchscreen phones by offering similar devices at lower price points.
- Music Streaming
- The music streaming industry can explore partnerships with smartphone manufacturers to create bundled music streaming programs that attract consumers.
- Consumer Electronics
- The consumer electronics industry should take note of the price-driven consumer preferences and consider offering more affordable options to remain competitive in the market.
