Nokia and Microsoft are trying to make a big splash in the American smartphone market. Will a new offer from Walmart help give them the edge they need?
Microsoft’s strict manufacturer standards also help ensure that the phones themselves will be high quality, avoiding some of the many device issues we’ve seen with Android.
Walmart is offering the first American-market Nokia running the Windows Phone operating system for free with a 2-year contract. Nokia has been noticeably absent from the smartphone market, and this move by the retail giant should give the phone manufacturer a much needed boost.
The Lumia 710 boasts a 1.4 GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, 512 MB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage. It may not be an iPhone, but given the price tag it doesn’t need to be.
Nokia’s direct challenge to the iPhone and top-line Samsung phones is the Lumia 900 coming in March. It comes with a larger, 4.3″ screen and front-and-back cameras as well as a sleek, curved design.
If the Lumia 710 catches on, it’s possible that consumer buzz will precede the Lumia 900′s expected March release, something that Nokia and Microsoft are both counting on.
Will 2012 mark the beginning of a three player game in Mobile OS market? We’ll soon find out.