In a world divided by Android vs. iOS, the Windows smartphone continues to plod ahead.
The new OS has had a lot of success outside of the U.S., especially in India and Asia. The Lumia series in particular has provided users with a cheap yet usable smartphone. Now, Microsoft is announcing the latest additions in the Lumia series; the Microsoft Lumia 435 and Lumia 532.
Microsoft announced the devices in a press release on Wednesday. Both phones run on the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 as well as the Lumia Denim update. What makes these phones unique from their previous versions is that they'll both host Microsoft's Office suite and Outlook. Skype is also automatically integrated into the phones, and the front-facing camera can be used for Skype conversations. All Lumia purchases come with 30 GB of OneDrive Cloud storage and HERE location services, Engadget reported.
Both phones have 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. If the internal memory isn't enough, there's a slot large enough for a 128 GB micro-SD card. The Lumia 435 relies on a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, while the Lumia 532 has a quad-core processor.
Unlike its cheaper relative, the Lumia 532 comes with a protective flip cover and card holder.
Microsoft will release the phones in February, however, Americans may be out of luck. Microsoft stated that it planned to release Lumia 435 and 532 in select countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. The 532 will likely go for 69 euros ($92), while the 435 will cover 69 euros ($81).
The phone release's international focus seems to reflect the recent market trend of Microsoft phones outselling iPhones in certain countries, such as Colombia, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and Thailand.
