Microsoft Nokia 130 Release Date, Price, Review: Launches About $25 Phone For Emerging Markets Of No Internet Capabilities

The Microsoft-owned Nokia has already unveiled on Monday its cheapest handset the Nokia 130 that primarily aimed to Africa and Asia due to emerging markets of no internet capabilities.

Microsoft may be dropping the Android and doubling down its Nokia Lumia phones running windows but it is not only the focus of the company. Nokia is looking at the customers need of emerging markets who do not need internet service-which is the Nokia 130.

The price is 19 euros and billed by the Microsoft as "an ideal handset for first-time mobile phone buyers, or for people seeking a reliable backup phone to complement their existing smartphones," the company said.

The Nokia 130 phone is expected to become available on the market by the third quarter of this year, including China, Indonesia, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Philippines, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Nokia 130 comes in a single and dual-SIM card varieties but does not have internet capabilities. Instead it can be used for playing music and videos. The handset boasts to more than 46 hours of music playback time and about 16 hours of video playback.

Moreover the device can remain standby without needing it to charge for a month. Picture and videos can stored locally on the device with an SD card but the phone itself can store up to 32 GB.

Nokia 130 is also equipped with FM radio, flashlight and 1.8-inch LCD display.

Jo Harlow of Microsoft said, "these consumer will create a Microsoft account and become part of the Microsoft ecosystem."

However, an analyst Ramon Llamas that this is a new territory for Microsoft since Nokia has a more experience with the said field.

Llamas also noted that Nokia 130 runs on Nokia's Series 30 operating system not Windows Phone.

For now it is not yet clear how the move can meaningfully boost the Microsoft's overall position in the mobile market.