MWC 2013: Nokia Lumia 720 And 520 To Broaden WP8 Reach

Nokia has unveiled two new Windows Phone 8-powered smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 720 and Nokia Lumia 520, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Finnish manufacturer said it wants to bring high-end innovations to more people at different price points, with the two new Lumia devices aimed at the middle and lower end of the smartphone markets.

The 4.3-inch Nokia Lumia 720 promises high-end camera performance at a mid-range price point and will apparently take clear pictures during both day and night, with its HD-quality, wide-angle, front-facing camera perfect for video calls.

Nokia Lumia range expands

The smartphone is powered by a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and has 8GB of storage which can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot as well as support for the Near Field Communcation (NFC).

Nokia says that the Lumia 720 will be released in some Aisan markets during the first quarter of 2013, before touching down in China, India, Asia, Africa and Europe, where it is expected to cost €249 (£215) before taxes and subsidies are applied.

The Nokia Lumia 520 is Nokia’s “most affordable” Windows Phone 8 smartphone and aims to deliver experiences normally found in high-end devices. It is slightly smaller at four inches, but also has 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage an a 1GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It’s cheaper too and is expected to cost €139 (£120) when it arrives in Europe during the second quarter of this year.

Nokia also announced two new feature phones at the event. The Nokia 105 is the company’s most affordable mobile phone ever at €15 (£13), while the more sophisticated Nokia 301 is “inspired” by the Lumia range, offering smart camera features and the Nokia Xpress Browser from the Asha range.

“The momentum behind Nokia is gathering pace. The launches today reflect our commitment to broadening our devices and services portfolio to meet the demands of people and businesses around the globe,” said Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia. “By offering better experiences at a more affordable price we are reinventing the battle for affordable mobile devices, and Nokia has the building blocks to win.”

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