Nokia has just revealed its first smartphones to run the next version of Windows and is so proud and optimistic, that even managed to corrupt the most critical analysts. Everybody speaks about a revival, a big step for a company that seemed to have lost any hope, but was saved during the last minute by an old friend, Microsoft. Of course, there are analysts, who can't see any possible light in this release, saying that Nokia won't ever recover its financial strength.
Proud Nokia Shows Off New Lumia Windows Smartphones
The new gadgets look great and promise to offer a decent performance, but there are no clear details about their effective sales. According to Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop, the new phones will go on sale in the fourth quarter in selected markets, with no evidence about the price or the selected carriers. I can only bet that Nokia won't be that stupid to give up its tradition alliances with AT&T and T-Mobile, which have been selling the earlier Lumia phones in US.
Financially speaking, investors weren't very impressed about Nokia's attempt. If you wish to steal Apple's debut, then do it with a spectacular gadget. Investors seem to have expected more specifications or an earlier launch and as consequence, Nokia shares fell 32 cents (11%), during the afternoon trading in New York. Things might be glamourous on TV, but on the effective market, Nokia is very sick. Its stock is at its lowest levels since the 1990s. It's now or never: either Nokia will recover through this new series of gadgets, either will become history, there's no turning back.
For some of you, the alliance with Microsoft might be strange, but it was Nokia's last chance to breathe again. Facing stiff competition from iPhone and Android, Nokia has long tried on its own to maintain its position, but eventually ended into a partnership with Microsoft last year. It has moved away from old and unpopular Symbian operating platform towards Windows Phone software, more precisely Windows Phone 7. For some users, this move was a betrayal, for others it was a relief.
Nokia sold 4 million Lumia phones in the second quarter, a bad joke comparing with the 26 million iPhones sold during the same period of time. On the other hand, for Microsoft, the alliance with Nokia was and continues to be its best chance to get into smartphones again, where it has been marginalized by iPhone and Android gadgets. The launch of Windows Phone 8 almost coincides with the launch of Windows 8 for PCs and tablets on October 26, guess who wants to make a profit from both events?
Proud Nokia Shows Off New Lumia Windows Smartphones
Now that both models are official and you don't have to take in account any rumor, let's take a look. The new gadgets augment Lumia's line with a larger, curved 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, a long lasting 2,000mAh battery, NFC ability and a 8-megapixel rear PureView camera capable of 1080p video. Seen from its front, the implied display, the so-called Super Sensitive Touch, is 25% brighter than the common type on the market and besides, it's the fastest LCD that Nokia has ever used for a smartphone, plus the most intuitive one, being able to offer enhanced readability in bright sunlight. Nokia wanted to transform Lumia 920 into a treasure and probably managed, if you take in account all these features. Let's not end the review, without some important details to be found on Lumia 920: there are 1GB of RAM on board, 32GB of memory, 7GB of free SkyDrive storage, Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) and Nokia Music app for your delight.
The little brother, Lumia 820, might disappoint you, if you search an ultra-advanced phone, but is ideal for students and other customers, not very convinced to spend a fortune on a gadget. Lumia 820 preserves almost the same specifications, with the exception of the display, reduced to 4.3-inch ClearBlack OLED WVGA, its battery is a 1,650mAh and 8GB of storage. So, which one will be your favorite?
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