Nokia added two more devices in its Asha Touch range of mid-tier devices, alongside an update to its Life emerging markets-oriented content service.

The embattled smartphone maker introduced the handset range earlier this year, in order to better compete with mass-market all-touch smartphones and feature phones from both new and established rivals.

In a statement, the company said features such as an open environment for third-party app development for the devices has “earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC”.

The handsets are the Asha 308 and Asha 309 (pictured), which are dual-SIM and single-SIM respectively. Both are 2G devices and include a new version of Nokia’s Xpress Browser, which the company said “enables up to 90 percent more efficient browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browsers”.

They are also described as “Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date”, with 3.0-inch displays. Storage comes from a microSD expansion slot.

The phones also include a “free gift” of 40 premium games from EA, standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, and video streaming through the browser.

Expected retail price for the two devices is expected to be around US$99 excluding taxes and subsidies, with shipping expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The updated Life service, called Life +, is said to “will provide millions of people with Nokia phones valuable information on education, health and ‘infotainment’ topics”.

Available now in English, Nokia said that later this year, local versions will be available in India, China and Indonesia.

It is available in 18 markets: Nigeria, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Africa, Malaysia, Kenya, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, US, UK, Ireland, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana.