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Who said bigger was better? The Nokia 1202 shows just what can be achieved by focusing on functionality and sustainability. Tailored for emerging markets and rural communities, this basic GSM phone costs just 25 Euros, bringing the freedom of mobile communications within the reach of almost anyone on the planet. It’s small, light and tough, with a dust-resistant keypad and a grippy, scratch-resistant casing. The compact 1.3-inch monochrome screen is just the right size for texting, accessing the calculator or calendar and setting alarms. There’s even a speakerphone for conference calls and a microphone for voice recording. The Nokia 1202 is designed for use in remote areas, so it sports an LED torch and class-leading battery life of nearly a month on standby or nine hours’ talk time.

What they say

“It has plenty of features that make it attractive.. other than the low price”
Mobile Gazette

If you only do one thing

Share your handset. With multiple phone books and a time/pre-pay tracker, the Nokia 1202 can be used by a whole family or even a small community, slashing its low cost even further.

Miscellany

The Swiss Army knife of phones

With its organiser functions, address book, calculator, stopwatch, converter and torch, the Nokia 1202 is as close as you’ll get to a digital Swiss Army knife. Here are some stiletto-sharp facts that won’t set off an airport metal detector:

The Swiss Army knife was invented in 1897 by Karl Elsener. Before that, the Swiss Army bought its knives from Solingen in Germany.

The term ‘Swiss Army knife’ was coined by American soldiers after World War 2 to describe the tongue-twisting ‘Offiziersmesser’ blade.

Not all US Presidents were paranoid about security. President Lyndon Johnson gave away 4000 Victorinox knives engraved with his initials to guests at the White House.

Swiss Army knives are part of the standard crew kit for astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle. In case they meet aliens with dangerous tentacles, presumably.