Nokia's cheapest Lumia to take on rivals

Finnish handset maker Nokia on Friday launched its Windows-based phone ‘Lumia 610’. Priced at Rs 12,999, it is the cheapest in the Lumia series.

With this, the company has upped its ante against rivals in the smartphone category, including Samsung, Apple and HTC. The move would also strengthen Nokia’s Windows-based smartphone portfolio, which currently has two other devices — the Lumia 710 (priced at about Rs 15,000) and the Lumia 800 (about Rs 24,000).

Vipul Mehrotra, director (smart devices), Nokia India, said, “The Nokia Lumia 610 would introduce the Windows phone to a new generation of smartphone users. It is designed to appeal to a more youthful audience, those who purchase their first smartphones.”

SMARTER AND CHEAPER  How the latest Lumia compares with the cheapest models of its rivals
SAMSUNG Galaxy Pocket Android Rs 6,500	RESEARCH IN MOTION Curve BlackBerry Rs 8,999	NOKIA Lumia 610 Windows Rs 12,999
Source: Industry

In the smartphone segment, Nokia had been facing stiff competition from rivals, especially Samsung. According to a recent study by CyberMedia Research, Samsung accounted for a share of 40.4 per cent in the smartphone market, while Nokia followed with 25.5 per cent market share. RIM’s share stood at 12.3 per cent.

Last year, Nokia and Microsoft had announced a partnership to help fight competition in the smartphone segment from rivals Apple and Samsung.

The Lumia series, the alliance’s first, was introduced globally in October 2011.

Nokia has also tied up exclusively with Warner Bros for its coming film The Dark Knight Rises.

This enables Lumina users to access exclusive film trivia, apps and videos. As part of the tie-up, Nokia would also introduce the special-edition TDKR Lumia 800, priced at Rs 24,999. “Starting mid-July, 200 units of the special-edition Lumia 800 smartphones, with laser-etched Batman logos and an exclusive Lumia DKR app, would be available exclusively for consumers in India,” said Mehrotra.