Cheaper Windows phone from Nokia

Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia, under pressure to drum up smartphone volumes in key markets such as India, is exploring cheaper Windows phones to spur sales. The Lumia 520, its lowest priced Windows smartphone at present, costs a little below ₹10,000 in India. Manu P Toms reports.

Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia, under pressure to drum up smartphone volumes in key markets such as India, is exploring cheaper Windows phones to spur sales. The Lumia 520, its lowest priced Windows smartphone at present, costs a little below ₹10,000 in India.

"We are constantly exploring how we can bring Windows phones to customers at lower price points in the Lumia range," said Vesa Jutila, global product marketing head, smart devices, Nokia. He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the high-end 925, the latest phone in the Lumia range.

"We thought from the India perspective to make affordable smart phones when we made Lumia 520. We will expand our product range to target different consumer segments in the different geographies."

Nokia's basic handsets are deeply entrenched in the Indian market, but it is lagging Samsung in the smartphone segment.

Globally, it is struggling against the Samsung-Apple duopoly, and launched three key products within a week — Lumia 928 in US, value for money Asha 501 in India and the slim Lumia 925 (costing about R33,000) with advanced camera technology in London.

Lumia 925 will ship to Europe and China in June. Plans for India were not revealed.

(The writer's travel and stay were sponsored by Nokia)