Last week, Microsoft unveiled the most affordable Windows Phone ever to join the Nokia range, with the announcement of the Lumia 530. The new entry-level Windows Phone 8.1 handset slots in below the Lumia 630, and is an important step in Microsoft"s efforts to bring the OS down to the lowest price points, following its decision to bin Nokia"s Asha and Series 40 devices.
Microsoft said that the Lumia 530 would be available to buy in August - and they"re not wasting much time in getting it out there. The device got its local launch in Vietnam today, and will go on sale there this weekend, priced at 2,349,000 VND (just over $110 USD), as WPCentral reports. It will make its way to other markets around the world in the weeks ahead, including the United States, where it will be available through T-Mobile.
Microsoft also announced a new "Lumia VIP" program today, bringing exclusive discounts and deals from over 500 brands - including Calvin Klein, Diesel, Pizza Hut, and many more - to owners of Nokia Windows Phones. For now, it seems that Lumia VIP is available exclusively in Vietnam, but we"ll be hoping that it makes its way to other parts of the world too.
Microsoft has been promoting the Lumia 530 for several days now, with videos showing off the handset under the tagline "power for the people". The Lumia 530 features a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 512MB of RAM and a 4-inch FWVGA (854x480px) display, although it lacks a front-facing camera, and its 5MP rear camera has fixed focus and no flash.
Source: WPCentral | image via Microsoft