Nokia has stepped up its bid to reclaim the smart phone market in Kenya which has long been dominated by Samsung. Nokia has announced that the Nokia Asha Touch 311 smart phone is now available in Kenya. The Nokia Asha 311 is a compact touch screen device that comes with features designed for fun and easy mobile user experience.

The Nokia Asha Touch interface allows users to access mobile entertainment options with just a simple swipe. The phone comes with a Nokia Browser 2.0 and a scratch resistant glass screen. The manufacturer promises higher internet access speeds attributed to the custom browser.

“We recently launched our first full touch Asha product, the Nokia Asha 305, and now add to the full touch family with the Asha 311,” says Bruce Howe, General Manager for Nokia East Africa. “This is in line with our commitment to bring smartphones to the vibrant youth market at more affordable price points, while not compromising on performance and access to world class apps through Nokia Store”.

The Asha Touch 311 is available at retailers across Kenya at an estimated retail price of KES 9,990. The phone will compete other low cost smart phones on the market including Samsung Galaxy pocket (KES. 9,999),  Huawei's Ideos Ascend (KES 8,499) and Alcatel OT 918 (KES 8,499) all of which have Android operating systems.