The device includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but no 3G connectivity, relying on EDGE and GPRS (2.75G) for mobile-based networking.

[8] Models sold in South Asia support at least eight languages: English, Urdu, Hindi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

[12] Foursquare was released for the model on 25 July; the app won't require GPS and uses location data from the network connection.

[19] The selection of included apps and user interface customisations may vary by availability and geographical region.

[2] Nokia Asha 501 has been noted for its battery, which offers long standby and talk times — 52 days and 17 hours, respectively — that in turn allows the phone to be used in places with inefficient or nonexistent electricity supply.