Nokia on Monday launched three new Qwerty devices (with keypad similar to a computer keyboard) and also introduced a new version of its messaging service with free push e-mail facility. Priced between Rs. 5,300 and Rs. 10,600, the new mobile handsets are mainly targeted towards youths and executives who are using chat and e-mail services more and more these days.

Similarly, Nokia new messaging service aggregates multiple e-mail accounts through one client and can support and mobilise up to 10 e-mail accounts.

This service will be available through all leading operators and consumers will only have to pay the basic data download charges. And as part of the Nokia Messaging Service (NMS) portfolio, it will also offer free Instant Messaging (IM) services, preloaded on select devices.

“Nokia's e-mail proposition offers different kinds of e-mail options depending on the need of the user. The service is already in use by over 30-lakh people in more than 100 countries.

“India is among the top five countries for the service and we are confident that with our decision to offer it for free, we will see a significant surge in adoption of e-mail and messaging services in the country,” said Nokia's Executive Vice-President (Markets) Anssi Vanjoki.

According to Nokia India Managing Director and Vice-President D. Shivakumar, “People are looking at messaging services as an enhanced business tool. There are 30-lakh mail users on mobile in India.

“The number is expected to touch 13-crore in 2014. Interestingly, 78 per cent of web e-mail users want to browse their e-mails on their mobile phones, while mobile e-mail users are growing at 96 per cent.