After iBall launched its first Windows 8.1 tablet, the 8-inch Slide WQ32, back in September, the company’s first Windows Phone handset was spotted a couple of weeks ago, in promotional panels photographed at a retail store. Now, the Indian hardware brand has officially announced the new device: the Andi 4L Pulse.
The device, which is now listed on the company’s website, is targeting the entry level of the market, like many of the new brands that have joined the platform in recent months. Its key specs include:
- 4-inch TFT LCD with WVGA (800x480px) resolution
- Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
- 1GB RAM
- 4GB onboard storage (plus microSD card support)
- 5MP rear camera with backside illuminated sensor and LED flash
- 0.3MP front-facing camera
- FM radio
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 3.0
- GPS
- Dual-SIM support
- Accelerometer, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor
- 1500mAh battery
As NDTV reports, pricing and availability info still hasn’t been announced by iBall, but the retailer at which the first images of the Andi 4L Pulse were spotted last week established its price as Rs.4,899 INR (just over $77 USD). That would make it India’s lowest-cost Windows Phone, and one of the most affordable of all smartphones available in the country.
India is becoming a fierce battleground for Windows Phone as more manufacturers have joined the platform since Microsoft dropped its Windows Phone OS licensing fees earlier this year. For example, fellow Indian brand Celkon launched its first Windows Phone device, the Win400, a few months ago priced at Rs.4,979; and last month, Lava"s Iris Win1 went on sale in India for Rs.4,999 - just over a dollar more than iBall"s new handset.
These pricing differences may seem inconsequential to some, but for the most price-sensitive buyers that these devices are targeting, even modest savings can sway purchasing intent.