Nokia has sold 1.5 billion devices running its mid-tier Series 40 OS, the company has revealed. The phone identified as taking it to the landmark figure was a Nokia Asha 303 sold in Sao Paulo, Brazil to 21-year-old Mayara Rodrigues

The first Series 40 phone was the Nokia 7110, developed in 1999, and the Nokia Asha range –  aimed at younger consumers in developing markets and first announced at Nokia World in October – is the latest device line to use the platform.

Series 40 provides functionality beyond basic featurephones, including Nokia Maps, Browser, Web Apps, Money and Life Tools.

Nokia said the milestone was important as part of its strategy of connecting the next billion mobile consumers. "We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone. Having 1.5 billion Series 40 devices sold is a hard-to-reach mark, let alone one attainable in a single line of products,” said executive VP for mobile phones at Nokia, Mary McDowell.