Mobile World Congress is in full-swing now, and as previously rumored, Nokia has officially announced two new handsets: the Nokia Lumia 520 and Nokia Lumia 720.
As expected the Lumia 720 is more of a mid-range device, and the 520 is a more cost effective option. Interestingly enough though, it looks like the Nokia Lumia 720 isn’t coming to the United States anytime soon.
The good news is that T-Mobile has already announced they are picking up the handset as the Nokia Lumia 521. So what does the Lumia 521 bring to the table?
Nokia Lumia 520 – The Hardware
The Nokia Lumia 521 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 with 512MB of RAM. The display is a 4-inch IPS LCD and other specs include a 5MP camera, HSPA+ radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, 8GB storage, microSD, 1430 mAh battery and a thickness of just 9.9mm.
While it is a basic device, it is still actually not at all bad considering the price point of around $175-$200 outright (T-Mobile has yet to confirm its actual pricing, but that’s the estimated target).
It is also important because Nokia choose not to offer its budget-oriented Lumia 620 in the United States, and in many way s the 520 actually looks better – including the larger display.
Even more importantly, this could be what the enterprise world needs.
Windows Phone 8 in the Enterprise
Nokia, Avanade and Microsoft have been working hard to expand the Windows Phone platform into the enterprise world, and while it hasn’t seen massive adoption just yet, the Lumia 521 could certainly help this situation.
Why? Right now businesses pretty much have two choices when switching to Windows Phone: go with mid and higher-end devices like the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920, or go with Windows Phone 7 for the low-end.
While spending tons of cash on the Lumia 920 is fine for upper-management, they might want something more cost effective for lower-tier workers. Being able to buy the Nokia Lumia 521 on-the-cheap outright could give these businesses a real reason to give Windows Phone 8 a try.
With its strong integration with Windows 8 and Office, there is a lot to like about Windows Phone 8, and the Lumia 521 can deliver all of this at a much lower price point.
There are no guarantees that the Lumia 520/521 will find itself successful in the business world, but personally I think it would make a great handset for basic use both in business and for pleasure.
What do you think of the Nokia Lumia 520, interested in the new handset or not? Share your thoughts below.
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