<p>Raising the stakes in the fiercely competitive affordable smartphone market in India, Microsoft today launched its first dual-SIM Lumia smartphone for Rs 11,500.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The new phone from Microsoft Devices, which operates the handset business acquired from Nokia last month for over USD 7.2 billion, will compete with dual-SIM models such as Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Duos.<br /><br />Taking forward the "cloud first, mobile first" strategy outlined by India-born Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, Lumia 630 will sport features like Microsoft's Office and OneDrive, a cloud storage facility through which documents, photos and music can be accessed via the Internet.<br />"Lumia is our principal smartphone strategy. Lumia phones will come with Nokia's promise of quality packed with Microsoft's services like OneDrive, Office 365 and others. Lumia 630 opens a new avenue for affordable smartphones for us," P Balaji, Managing Director of Nokia India, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobiles Oy, told PTI.<br /><br />The single-SIM variant will be available for Rs 10,500.<br />Citing analysts, he said about 80 per cent of the smartphones sold under Rs 12,000 in India are dual SIM.<br /><br />In April, Devices Group EVP Stephen Elop had explained that dual-SIM capability is "critically important" in emerging markets like India and China and noted that in 2016, people will buy more than 100 million dual-SIM smartphones.<br /><br />Currently, the cheapest model in the Lumia range is the 520, which retails for about Rs 8,400.<br /><br />Asked if more affordable devices would be brought out under the Lumia range, Balaji said the firm would "continue to test newer price points."<br /><br />Powered by the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, the Lumia 630 features a 4.5-inch display and 5 megapixel auto-focus camera. It has built-in low power sensors for health apps such as pedometers.<br /><br />The Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Duos are all priced under Rs 12,000 and have done well in the affordable smartphone market in India.<br /><br />According to research firm IDC, affordability is driving smartphone adoption in the country, where domestic firms Micromax and Karbonn have a strong presence.<br /><br />Last year, the market grew three-fold to 44 million devices from 16.2 million units in 2012.<br />The company launched a treasure tag, costing Rs 2,099, which allows users to track things like keys and bags.<br /><br />Smaller than a matchbox, the device alerts smartphone users when they go beyond 10 metres of the tagged item. It will be available by end of this month.<br /><br />The firm also introduced an NFC-enabled Bluetooth mini speaker for Rs 5,499, to be available by mid-June.</p>
<p>Raising the stakes in the fiercely competitive affordable smartphone market in India, Microsoft today launched its first dual-SIM Lumia smartphone for Rs 11,500.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The new phone from Microsoft Devices, which operates the handset business acquired from Nokia last month for over USD 7.2 billion, will compete with dual-SIM models such as Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Duos.<br /><br />Taking forward the "cloud first, mobile first" strategy outlined by India-born Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, Lumia 630 will sport features like Microsoft's Office and OneDrive, a cloud storage facility through which documents, photos and music can be accessed via the Internet.<br />"Lumia is our principal smartphone strategy. Lumia phones will come with Nokia's promise of quality packed with Microsoft's services like OneDrive, Office 365 and others. Lumia 630 opens a new avenue for affordable smartphones for us," P Balaji, Managing Director of Nokia India, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobiles Oy, told PTI.<br /><br />The single-SIM variant will be available for Rs 10,500.<br />Citing analysts, he said about 80 per cent of the smartphones sold under Rs 12,000 in India are dual SIM.<br /><br />In April, Devices Group EVP Stephen Elop had explained that dual-SIM capability is "critically important" in emerging markets like India and China and noted that in 2016, people will buy more than 100 million dual-SIM smartphones.<br /><br />Currently, the cheapest model in the Lumia range is the 520, which retails for about Rs 8,400.<br /><br />Asked if more affordable devices would be brought out under the Lumia range, Balaji said the firm would "continue to test newer price points."<br /><br />Powered by the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, the Lumia 630 features a 4.5-inch display and 5 megapixel auto-focus camera. It has built-in low power sensors for health apps such as pedometers.<br /><br />The Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Duos are all priced under Rs 12,000 and have done well in the affordable smartphone market in India.<br /><br />According to research firm IDC, affordability is driving smartphone adoption in the country, where domestic firms Micromax and Karbonn have a strong presence.<br /><br />Last year, the market grew three-fold to 44 million devices from 16.2 million units in 2012.<br />The company launched a treasure tag, costing Rs 2,099, which allows users to track things like keys and bags.<br /><br />Smaller than a matchbox, the device alerts smartphone users when they go beyond 10 metres of the tagged item. It will be available by end of this month.<br /><br />The firm also introduced an NFC-enabled Bluetooth mini speaker for Rs 5,499, to be available by mid-June.</p>