The return of Nokia branded phones and tablets
A startup called HMD Global Oy (Helsinki, Finland) has been formed to takeover the Nokia brand for mobile phones and tablet computers and has said it intends to spend $500 million marketing Nokia as an Android-based mobile device over the next three years. HMD is owned by Smart Connect LP, a private equity fund managed by Jean-Francois Baril, a former Nokia executive, as well as by HMD management. As part of the same deal, Microsoft is selling remaining feature phone business assets to FIH Mobile Ltd., a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industries (trading as Foxconn Technology Group).
HMD said it will produce smartphones and tablets that run the Android operating system. However while it is clear that HMD/Nokia will not be a manufacturers of mobile devices it remains unclear as to whether it will even perform its own design. The whole focus of the launch announcement was that HMD would focus on marketing and brand. It may yet also outsource the design of its devices and focus on putting its brand in front of consumers eyes and developing services that are accessed through those devices.
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1329712
HMD said it will produce smartphones and tablets that run the Android operating system. However while it is clear that HMD/Nokia will not be a manufacturers of mobile devices it remains unclear as to whether it will even perform its own design. The whole focus of the launch announcement was that HMD would focus on marketing and brand. It may yet also outsource the design of its devices and focus on putting its brand in front of consumers eyes and developing services that are accessed through those devices.
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1329712
The display isn't all. A smartphone has a much bigger CPU with higher power consumption. I imagine an older phone would do fine with some 8-bit microprocessor, given the same GSM modules. Or even with no extra processor since the GSM module was probably the entirety of the phone. Typically has some extra radio like Bluetooth or WiFi etc.
Also, older phones were used for one purpose only: phone calls (ok, SMS also. Older phones were used for two purposes. phone calls and SMS and alarms). This meant that you spent very little time with the phone and it was able to sleep for long periods without consuming much power. With the new phones you surf the internet, play games or check your email etc. This causes the phone to come out of sleep many more times than before.
With all these things added, it's a wonder that a smartphone even can go thru a whole day with one charge.