Nokia has today formally launched two dual SIM handsets in the market. The Nokia X2-01 , a low end handset retailing at between Ksh 3300-3800 and the Nokia C2-00,  a java based phone retailing at between Kshs 6,000 to Kshs 6500. The phones were launched today morning at The Sarova Stanley in Nairobi by Gopher Ogembo, Nokia  Head of Sales for East and Southern Africa.The launch comes at a time when Nokia has been facing stiff competition from other manufacturers such as Samsung, Tecno and Chinese imports. The Nokia X2-01 and Nokia C2-00 phones allow for personalization of both SIM cards with different settings, such as network names, ringtones. SIMs can also be differentiated by function such that one SIM is used to make and receive calls, SMS or for data only.  The phones also sallow for easy swapping of the second SIM card, with a side slot where SIMs can be swapped without requiring a phone restart.

Ogembo said that the phones had already been available in the market before today’s launch. “We have been quite excited with sales of the two duals SIMs in the few weeks that they have been on sale,” he says.

The Nokia C2-00 is a Series 40 based phone with the ability to run Java based applications. In addition, the phones support a memory card, FM radio and Internet GPRS. 

The Nokia Dual SIM X1-01 features include Mp3 playback, exceptionally loud speaker, long battery life with up to 36 hours of music playback, memory card and a torch.