Nokia has announced the sale of its 1.5 billionth handset running on the Series 40 (S40) platform.

The handset in question was a Nokia Asha 303 touch screen handset with QWERTY keypad, and was purchased, Nokia said, in Sao Paulo by 21-year-old Mayara Rodrigues.

The platform has been at the heart of Nokia’s success in emerging markets, where feature phones are still in high demand. The firm claims its S40 phones “blur the line between feature phones and smartphones”, as they come preloaded with apps such as Nokia Maps, a web browser and locally relevant web apps and content.

Nokia first showcased the S40 platform on the Nokia 7110 handset in 1999.

“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 Mary McDowell, executive vice president for mobile phones at Nokia.

“At a time when we are maintaining our commitment to connecting the next billion customers around the world – it is gratifying to consider how Series 40 devices have made mobile technology accessible and help continue to change people’s lives for the better.”