KUALA LUMPUR: If you’re a fan of The Matrix, you must surely be familiar with the Nokia 8110 aka 'Banana' phone, first released in 1996.
Today, 22 years later, HMD Global, the maker of Nokia phones, has announced the return of the legendary slider phone with the bells and whistles of 4G connectivity, apps, including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Search, Facebook and Twitter.
The company also previews four new additions to its portfolio of Android smartphones – Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, new Nokia 6 and Nokia 1.
Furthering its promise to a pure, smart, secure and up-to-date Android experience, HMD Global also announced it is to become the first global partner to have a full suite of devices selected into the Android One programme by Google.
Three new Nokia smartphones that join the Android one programme are the Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus and the new Nokia 6.
With a pure Android installation, Nokia smartphones come with no unnecessary UI changes or hidden processes that would eat up battery life or slow them down so you can enjoy your new phone for longer.
Each of the new phones comes with a limited number of pre-installed apps so that you’ll get more storage space, as well as the latest innovations that help you stay ahead of the game every day.
All the phones were unveiled at the on-going Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in Barcelona recently.
HMD Global’s country manager (Malaysia and Myanmar), Vijay Thangavelu, said the anticipation and excitement from Nokia fans leading up to the announcement at MWC 2018 was testament to the popularity of the brand in Malaysia and Myanmar.
“We’re confident the additions to our portfolio of Android smartphones will set a new benchmark in terms of quality, design and usability. Today, we continue to maintain our promise of making sure there is a Nokia phone to satisfy every price point and every segment of the market,” he said.
After making a comeback mid last year, the company has sold 70 million devices worldwide.
All the new phones announced are expected to be available in stages from April 2018.