Windows phones have little market share here, and not too many are writing apps, so finding a market that would demand less apps and or service is a reasonable avenue to take. Seeling the phones at cost or at loss-leader is a common approach into new markets.
I know it's never likely to happen but wouldn't it be nice if one of our technology buddies could fix us up with a $25 phone here in North America?
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Microsoft's Devices Group has unveiled the Nokia 130, a mobile phone that costs just US$25 but lacks an Internet connection and apps.
The focus of Microsoft's mobile device strategy is on building both high-end and low-cost smartphones running Windows Phone, but there is still a need for "ultra-affordable" mobile phones, the company said on Monday.
With the 130, Microsoft is going after people in emerging markets who are buying their first phone. It's also a good fit for people who want a backup to complement their existing smartphones, according to the company.
The $25 price tag (before taxes and subsidies) is about $90 cheaper than the Lumia 530, which is the lowest cost Windows Phone Microsoft has introduced so far. The price difference with the cheapest Android-based Nokia X -- which was recently killed in favor of Windows Phone -- is about the same.
http://www.itworld.com/431029/microsoft-st...oday_2014-08-11I'm currently phone rich in that I'm carrying a phone that is much more than I would buy for myself. It can surf the web (if my chubby fingers could allow), check out the gas prices in area stations, show weather maps and the temperature, and tell me how many steps I've walked. It's great but I'm sure I wouldn't want to pay for it myself and it comes with my job so I don't have to.
