Microsoft Attacks Entry-level Smartphone Market With Lumia 430

Microsoft today launched its latest entry-level Windows 8.1-powered smartphone dubbed Lumia 430. The new affordable Windows phone is expected to go official in India by next month. Given Microsoft Lumia 535's huge success in emerging market, the launch of the Lumia 430 might not seem a surprise move for the Redmond-based tech giant.

Recommended: Gameloft Titles Will Now Be Available On Opera Mobile Store

What is Lumia 430?

Microsoft on Thursday quietly launched its cheapest Windows handset yet. Basically the Lumia 430 is a dual-SIM phone targeted at emerging markets. It features a 4-inch WVGA display, a dual-core Snapdragon 200 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot for expansion storage. There's a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera, alongside a VGA 0.3-megapixel front-facing shooter. The makers have added a 1500mAh battery inside. As usual, the device will run Windows Phone 8.1 of the box. The company also claims the Lumia 430 will be the most affordable device to get Windows 10 OS update.

What about apps?

The Microsoft Lumia 430 come preloaded with Microsoft Office, meaning you can edit word documents, Excel sheets and PowerPoint presentations on the go. It also features Skype integration, like any other Windows-powered handset.

Why is Microsoft investing heavily in the low-end segment?

Although Google's Android is still the world's most popular mobile OS, the popular operating system has been peaked lately. This has resulted in increased opportunity for players like Microsoft, who had been trying to tap this market for so long. The Lumia 430 might help Microsoft to stand out from the crowd in emerging markets by offering differentiated products at right prices.

The Lumia 430 (Dual SIM) could be priced around Rs. 4,500, when it goes on sale in India by next month. Currently the Lumia 432 is the cheapest Windows Phone 8.1 handset available in India at Rs. 5,400.

Source - Microsoft