Nokia is starting off its run to capture a chunk of the U.S. smartphone market with the Lumia 710, which it will market with T-Mobile at a low price ($49 with a two-year contract). For that cash outlay, users will receive a device with a handsome exterior and smooth user interface, 4G support, and respectable battery life (seven hours) and processor (1.4GHz Snapdragon single-core). It also boasts a 3.7-inch screen with 800-by-480 resolution. Nokia and T-Mobile, its carrier partner on the venture, recognize that they're marketing a midlevel smartphone. In that spirit, their campaign for an audience focuses on price and Windows Phone's supposed ease of use. This is a device meant for customers who've never owned a smartphone before, they argue, or find some higher-end rivals' devices too intimidating. The Lumia 710 runs Windows Phone Mango, Microsoft’s latest update to its smartphone platform. That update, with its hundreds of tweaks and features, potentially makes Windows Phone a viable option for a broad audience. While Mango has attracted largely positive reviews, Microsoft's smartphones continue to struggle for adoption in the face of significant competition from Google Android and Apple's iOS. Considering how all of Nokia's new phones will employ Windows Phone, the Finnish phone maker's survival is inevitably tethered to how well Microsoft and its partners can reverse that trend.
of
U.S. Phone
Nokia's first Windows Phone for the U.S. market, the Lumia 710, is aimed firmly at the midmarket. It will retail for $49.
Solid Hardware
As with many other Nokia smartphones, the Lumia 710 is a solidly constructed device, although its black exterior also lacks the flair of some competing smartphone models.
Windows Phone Mango
The Lumia 710 runs Windows Phone Mango, the most recently updated version of Microsoft's Windows Phone software platform.
Nokia Drive
Nokia is also offering its own proprietary applications with the device, including Nokia Drive, a navigational application.
Local Scout
An application preloaded with Windows Phone Mango, Local Scout offers a quick guide to nearby eateries and other points of interest, leveraging the smartphone's GPS to establish a location.
Resolution
Nokia argues the Lumia 710's 800-by-480 resolution is enhanced by what it calls ClearBlack technology, but ultimately, the display is virtually indistinguishable (in multiple different lighting conditions) from other good quality screens on the market.
Marketplace
Windows Phone's application marketplace is now large enough to offer tens of thousands of applications.
Gaming
Microsoft is also betting that its reputation for gaming (thanks to its Xbox franchise) will draw gamers looking for a portable device.
Email
With Windows Phone Mango, Microsoft has expanded the capabilities of its email hub, including the ability to see multiple conversations linked to a particular email.
Battery Life
Nokia claims the Lumia 710 will last for seven hours on a full battery charge.
Camera
The Lumia 710 includes a 5-megapixel camera.
Office Hub
For business users, Windows Phone offers an Office hub, complete with the ability to perform lightweight edits on Excel, Word and PowerPoint documents.
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Nokia is starting off its run to capture a chunk of the U.S. smartphone market with the Lumia 710, which it will market with T-Mobile at a low price ($49 with a two-year contract). For that cash outlay, users will receive a device with a handsome exterior and smooth user interface, 4G support, and respectable battery life (seven hours) and processor (1.4GHz Snapdragon single-core). It also boasts a 3.7-inch screen with 800-by-480 resolution. Nokia and T-Mobile, its carrier partner on the venture, recognize that they're marketing a midlevel smartphone. In that spirit, their campaign for an audience focuses on price and Windows Phone's supposed ease of use. This is a device meant for customers who've never owned a smartphone before, they argue, or find some higher-end rivals' devices too intimidating. The Lumia 710 runs Windows Phone Mango, Microsoft’s latest update to its smartphone platform. That update, with its hundreds of tweaks and features, potentially makes Windows Phone a viable option for a broad audience. While Mango has attracted largely positive reviews, Microsoft's smartphones continue to struggle for adoption in the face of significant competition from Google Android and Apple's iOS. Considering how all of Nokia's new phones will employ Windows Phone, the Finnish phone maker's survival is inevitably tethered to how well Microsoft and its partners can reverse that trend.