Microsoft, through its newly acquired Nokia, is looking to expand their presence to the emerging markets of Asia and Africa, unveiling the new $25 Nokia 130.
The company says the 130 is "an ideal handset for first-time mobile phone buyers, or for people seeking a reliable backup phone to complement their existing smartphones." The device runs on Nokia's own Series 30 OS, not Windows Phone, so the strategy is a bit different for Microsoft than usual.
Available in China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam starting in the Q3, Microsoft says it wants a bigger piece of the "estimated" 1 billion people around the globe that do not have a mobile phone, at all. The company also says that over 300 million phones priced under $35 are sold every year.
The phone is available in single or dual-SIM models, has a microSD slot for 32GB of extra video or music, and has a 1.8-inch display (non-touch of course) with a full 9-digit keyboard and a trackpad. Most notably, the phone has 36 days of standby time, at least 10 times higher than most smartphones.
Available in China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam starting in the Q3, Microsoft says it wants a bigger piece of the "estimated" 1 billion people around the globe that do not have a mobile phone, at all. The company also says that over 300 million phones priced under $35 are sold every year.
The phone is available in single or dual-SIM models, has a microSD slot for 32GB of extra video or music, and has a 1.8-inch display (non-touch of course) with a full 9-digit keyboard and a trackpad. Most notably, the phone has 36 days of standby time, at least 10 times higher than most smartphones.
