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BARCELONA, Spain–Nokia has just thrown the curtains open on its new additions to the Windows Phone 8-packing Lumia range. The baby of the bunch — the Lumia 520 — starts at only 139 euros (around $185 or 120 pounds) making it the cheapest way into Windows Phone you’ll find But Nokia’s Vice President of Smart Devices Marketing, Hans Henrik Lund, hinted that even cheaper Lumias could be on the way.
Speaking behind the multi-coloured Nokia stand at Mobile World Congress here, Lund explained, “I believe 139 [euros] is not the lowest price point we can get to. We can go lower.”
Lund didn’t want to comment on exactly what future products might be in the pipeline, or indeed which price points Nokia is looking at tackling. The Nokia 105, also unveiled today, costs a mere 15 euros, but doesn’t come with the smartphone features of Windows Phone.
Lund was keen to express that Nokia does not see itself as a cheap company though, “We see our future in having a family including devices at all price points,” which will include high-end flagship phones to replace the Lumia 920.
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Sales of the 920 have so far been lackluster compared to sales of the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S3. That’s perhaps not surprising, as Nokia’s low-end Lumias offer many of the same features as its top-end models. The main reason to pay hundreds more for the 920, Lund admitted, is for the camera. Lund indicated that the U.S. market is a strong one for its phones, particularly with AT&T — he didn’t, however, wish to back that up with any figures.
“I think Nokia is seen as a super-trusted brand,” Lund boasted, although he admitted that Microsoft’s decision to ditch Windows Phone 7, thereby leaving early adopters up the proverbial creek, likely had a negative impact on that trust.
So what exactly should we expect from future Lumias? Lund didn’t want to give any details on new designs but, speaking of HTC’s recent move from polycarbonate chassis to aluminum with the HTC One, “If it turns out that having an aluminum design is the best option then that’s something we will look at.” He explained, “We’re still loyal to the material choice and colors. 50 per cent of Nokia’s sales are colored.”
So expect a whole retina-searing range of hues to be turning up with the Nokia name attached. Whether Lund makes good on the promise of dirt-cheap Windows Phone 8 models remains to be seen.
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