Nokia has unveiled its first handsets powered by Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system – the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710.
The new phones, which are both powered by the new Window Phone 7.5 OS (Mango), were showcased at the annual Nokia World event in London on Wednesday morning and mark the start of Nokia’s fight back against Apple and Google Android devices, which now dominate the global smartphone market.
According to the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer, the “head-turning” Nokia Lumia 800 combines “familiar Nokia elements, such as leading imaging capabilities and new signature experiences” with “Nokia’s best social and internet experience”.
In a statement, it added that the “colourful and affordable Nokia Lumia 710 is a no-nonsense smartphone that brings the Lumia experience to more people around the world”.
The high-end Lumia 800 will go on sale in the UK next month priced at around €420 (£365), with Vodafone, Orange and Three confirming they will be stocking the phone along with high street retailers Phones 4U and Carphone Warehouse.
The cheaper Lumia 710, which echoes the iPhone with its curved edges and white or black casing, will be available first in Russia and the Far East, before heading to Europe and the US in 2012.
In addition to the Lumia Mango smartphones, Nokia also launched four Asha-branded mobiles – the Nokia Asha 300, Asha 303, Asha 200 and Asha 201 – which all come with full QWERTY keyboards, touchscreen displays and integrated social networking, and are aimed at users across Asia.
Announcing the new range of products, Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop, said: “Eight months ago, we shared our new strategy and today we are demonstrating clear progress of this strategy in action.”
“We’re driving innovation throughout our entire portfolio, from new smartphone experiences to ever smarter mobile phones.”
“I’m incredibly proud of these new devices – and the people of Nokia who have made this happen.”
