Microsoft’s Devices Group has revealed a new low-cost feature phone. The Nokia 130 has a SIM-free price of €19 before tax (£15+VAT; £18 incl. VAT) and is expected to start shipping this autumn, although UK distribution hasn’t been confirmed. Availability is expected in China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Features include a video and music player, a flashlight, FM radio, microSD slot and USB charging. There’s a 1.8-inch colour display and a choice of single SIM or dual-SIM versions.
Jo Harlow, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for Phones, said “As demand in the affordable mobile segment continues to grow, Microsoft remains committed to delivering market-leading mobile innovation at each and every price point. It is estimated that at least 1 billion people in the world still do not have a mobile phone, while at the same time there is increasing demand for reliable backup phones in both mature and high-growth markets. With handsets like the Nokia 130, we see tremendous potential to deliver the experience of a ‘mobile-first’ world to people seeking their first device, and we continue to invest in ultra-affordable devices that will introduce people to a ‘cloud-first’ world through Microsoft services such as Bing, Outlook.com and OneDrive.”
[Nokia Conversations blog]