Microsoft Announces A $25 Feature Phone For Asia & Africa | TechTree.com

Microsoft Announces A $25 Feature Phone For Asia & Africa

Microsoft will continue to serve the entry-level phone market with Nokia's Series 30 platform.

 

Microsoft has pulled a bit of a surprise with the announcement of its $25 Nokia 130 entry-level mobile phone, just weeks after pulling the plug on Nokia X, Asha and S60. Squarely aimed at first-time phone buyers in Asia and Africa, the device runs on Nokia's Series 30 software which hasn't been axed by the Redmond giant.

It certainly seemed that Microsoft was exiting the feature phone business to focus solely on its Windows Phone based Lumia devices. The launch of the Nokia 130 is weird, because it's confirmation that the company will maintain a presence in the entry-level phone business.

Microsoft is selling the device under the veil that it's the most affordable mobile phone with a music and video player. The device sports a basic 1.8-inch display, an MP3 player, FM Radio and an SD card slot. The device does not support internet connectivity, which isn't surprising given the segment the phone will compete in.

As with Nokia's feature phones of the past, strong battery life has been the key focus area for Microsoft. The company claims the Nokia 130 is capable of 46 hours of audio playback, and 16 hours of movie watching. The device is also rated to deliver 13 hours of talk time, on both single SIM and dual SIM variants.

Those specifications are in no way impressive, but they don't have to be, given the segment the Nokia 130 will compete in. What makes the device all-the-more interesting is that it goes against Microsoft's focus on the Windows Phone platform. Still, the Nokia brand name remains strong among consumers in the entry-level market, which is probably what spurred Microsoft to remain in the game.

[Also Read: Microsoft Pulls The Plug On Nokia's Experiment With Android]

In an interview with Re/Code, VP of Microsoft's phone division, Jo Harlow said, the company will retain Nokia's entry-level phone business because “Microsoft doesn’t have any other project that can reach these consumers.”

The Nokia 130 will be available in select markets such as China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. The device will be available in multiple colour options, and retains much of the essence of phones launched by erstwhile giant Nokia.


TAGS: Microsoft, Nokia 130, Feature Phones, Series 30, Windows Phone

 
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