Nokia's basic phones generate much better operating profits than its smartphone lineup, the Finnish mobile phone company said on Tuesday when it unveiled regrouped past business results.

Smartphones' operating profit margin, which the company called contribution margin in the statement, fell to 6.2 percent in the first quarter from 10.4 percent in the same quarter of 2010. Basic phones margin fell to 16.5 percent from 19.4 percent a year earlier.

Nokia is expected to report a sharp fall in its second quarter results when it reports earnings on July 21 around 6a.m. EDT.

(Reporting by Helsinki Newsroom; Editing by Hans-Juergen Peters)

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