Culminating more than eight months of work in partnership with Microsoft, Nokia unveiled its new line of phones powered by Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system, the Lumia line.
At Nokia World 2011 in London, the company's annual event for customers, partners and developers, Nokia demonstrated the first smartphones in its Windows Phone-based Nokia Lumia range. The Nokia Lumia 800 brings content to life with design, Nokia's best social and Internet experience, familiar Nokia elements, such as leading imaging capabilities and new signature experiences, the company said. Meanwhile, the colorful Nokia Lumia 710 is a no-nonsense smartphone that aims to bring the Lumia experience to a wide number of consumers around the world due to its affordable price point.
Nokia will begin shipping the phones to Europe in November and in Asia by the end of the year, However, We will be introducing a portfolio of products into the United States in early 2012," Nokia president and CEO Stephen Elop said during his keynote on October 25.
The estimated retail price for the Nokia Lumia 800 will be approximately 420 euros, excluding taxes and subsidies. The estimated retail price for the Nokia Lumia 710 will be approximately 270 euros, excluding taxes and subsidies.
The Nokia Lumia 800 is now available in select countries for preorder on www.nokia.com and is scheduled to roll-out across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK in November, with 31 leading operators and retailers providing unprecedented marketing support in those first six countries. It is scheduled to be available in Hong Kong, India, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan before the end of the year, and in further markets in early 2012.
The Nokia Lumia 710 is scheduled to be available first in Hong Kong, India, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan toward the end of the year alongside the Nokia Lumia 800, before becoming available in further markets in early 2012.
Nokia also announced its plans to introduce a portfolio of products into the United States in early 2012 and into mainland China in the first half of 2012. In addition to the existing products, which include coverage for WCDMA and HSPA, Nokia also plans LTE and CDMA products to address specific local market requirements.
Meanwhile, Elop said Nokia is using its relationships with carriers and retailers to push the new Lumia line of Windows Phones. Chris Weber, president of Nokia US, said Nokia is working with retailers to incentivize salespeople to promote and sell the Windows Phones. He added that Nokia would be offering "custom" phones for the U.S. market.
To read the original eWeek article, click here:
Nokia Unveils New Windows Phones: Lumia 800 and 710
test
