The Nokia Asha 501, the first of a new generation of smartphones to run on the new Asha Platform, will start selling this week in Thailand and Pakistan, with availability in India soon to follow. The new device will roll out in subsequent weeks across countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

The suggested retail price for the Nokia Asha 501 is 99 USD before taxes and local subsidies.

Available in six colores, the Nokia Asha 501 comes in just two parts: a removable shell and the scratch-resistant, tempered glass display. The compact device weighs 98 grams and a simple swipe unlocks the phone, closes apps and is used to shift between two screens: 'Home' and 'Fastlane'. Home makes full use of the three-inch touchscreen, displaying a traditional application launcher. Fastlane is the second screen that adapts to display recent activity on the phone as well as upcoming events, helping people multi-task. Fastlane also supports social integration with Facebook and Twitter, by allowing people to post directly from within Fastlane.

The new Asha comes with the Nokia Xpress Browser pre-loaded, which compresses Internet data by up to 90%. Pre-installed social apps include Facebook and Twitter; chat services like Line, Nimbuzz and WeChat; as well as up to 40 free EA games available to download, such as Plants vs. Zombies. Even more free apps and games are available from Nokia Store, including HERE Maps and the new Nokia Xpress Now content discovery web app.