In a bid to regain lost turf in the smart phone segment, Nokia launched its flagship Windows 8 Phone — the Lumia 920 — in India. The phone has some interesting features including an 8.7 megapixel camera, wireless charging, and an integrated mapping service, which the handset maker claims is the most comprehensive experience of any smartphone.
The phone is priced at Rs 38,199 and will be available in stores across India from Friday
“The launch of Lumia 920 has instantly catapulted Windows Phone into the high-end smartphone shootout,” said P. Balaji, MD and Vice-President of Nokia India.
For Nokia, the new Lumia phones are critical, as it faces huge challenge from Android-based phone makers and Apple. Android and Apple devices dominate in smartphones, with 85 per cent of the worldwide market combined, according to IDC. Nokia had launched its first Windows phones in 2011 under the Lumia brand, as part of a long-term alliance with Microsoft.
Nokia sold 4 million Lumia phones globally in the second quarter of 2012, compared to 26 million iPhones that Apple sold and 50.5 million smartphones sold by Samsung during those three months.
Global market share
Nokia’s global market share shrunk from the peak of 40 per cent in 2008 to 29 per cent in 2011. In India, too, the handset maker has been losing market share to Samsung. Therefore, the Finnish handset maker has tried to bring a differentiated product with Lumia 920.
The device comes with several technology firsts. As the first phone ever to have physical OIS (optical image stabilisation), the Lumia 920 camera gives you blur-free rock-steady images.
With the best Nokia PureView imaging innovation, the camera is able to take in five times more light.
The 4.5-inch touch screen is so sensitive that you can also operate it with gloves, mittens and nails. It also has one of the brightest and most pixel dense displays out there.
The phone is available in yellow, red, white and black.
Nokia also launched the less powerful and cheaper Lumia 820 at Rs 27,559.
thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in