Verizon recently started selling its first Nokia-branded handset from HMD Global, the Nokia 2V. The carrier’s brick-and-mortar stores and online outlets exclusively retail the device and interested consumers may buy the smartphone outright or as a part of a data plan from the service provider.
The Nokia 2V is an entry-level handset, and it features the Snapdragon 425 chipset from Qualcomm. This SoC features an octa-core ARM Cortex A53 CPU running at a maximum clock speed of 1.4GHz and the Adreno 308 GPU. Furthermore, this device also includes 8GB of internal storage, which users may expand using a microSD card. Despite the small capacity of the smartphone’s flash storage, the Nokia 2V runs Android Oreo Go, a version of Google’s operating system optimized for handsets with inexpensive hardware and limited storage.
Moreover, Android Go features fewer pre-installed apps, which boosts the amount of available memory by as much as two times, and it also sports applications with smaller storage footprint and update sizes, which Google claims will result in improved handset performance.
The Nokia 2V features a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. Flanking both the top and bottom of the screen are dual front-facing speakers, while a 4,000mAh battery powers the smartphone. HMD Global claims that the power pack can offer up to 2 days of battery life on a single charge, although this number will depend on how the person uses the device. The handset can connect to Verizon’s 4G LTE network, and it supports Wi-Fi Calling and HD Voice. The Nokia 2V is also compatible with Verizon’s TravelPass, a service that allows consumers to call, text, and use data in up to 200 countries around the world.
Interested consumers may purchase the device outright from Verizon for $69.99, although the company’s subscribers may buy the handset by upgrading or re-activating their 8GB data plan, which costs $50 a month. For a limited time, Verizon Prepaid is offering a promotion which increases the monthly data allowance of consumers who subscribe to the carrier’s 8GB data plan to 15GB. This additional data allowance lasts as long as the account is active.
Background: HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia-branded smartphones, recently collaborated with two US carriers. Aside from Verizon, the company also partnered with Cricket Wireless, and the MVNO is currently selling another entry-level device, the Nokia 3.1 Plus. The handset maker established these partnerships to expand its presence in the United States, in addition to the company’s continuing efforts to extend its online retail partnerships. Partnering with carriers allows HMD Global to access more potential buyers, which could result in the increase of smartphone sales.
Impact: If the Nokia-branded entry-level smartphones retail in satisfactory amounts, it could pave way for Nokia to start selling more expensive devices on the stores of its partner carriers or it may also influence other service providers to establish partnerships with the device maker. HMD Global managed to sell millions of devices despite being a young company but expanding its presence in the United States will help the tech firm boost sales and improve its bottom line.
Nokia 2V - Verizon - $69
