Nokia Unveils QWERTY-Equipped Asha 210

The QWERTY phone that Nokia previously teased was made official today, with the company revealing a social media-focused, entry level smartphone dubbed the Asha 210.

Since the Asha 210 is, like many of Nokia's phones, aimed at low-end and developing markets, it has modest specs including a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera (the phone's only camera), 2G connectivity, and, due to the presence of the physical QWERTY keyboard, a 2.4-inch display.

The phone, which is available in both single- and dual-SIM versions, will be available in yellow, cyan, black, magenta, and white.  Other features include a dedicated WhatsApp button, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an advertised 46-day battery life for the single-SIM version (24 days for the dual-SIM). The WhatsApp cross-platform messaging service will be free to users for the lifetime of the device.

The low-end features are reflected in the price, which is mere $72 for either the single- or dual-SIM version. The Asha 210 is expected to begin shipping in Q2 of 2013.