Struggling Finnish mobile giant Nokia has date with destiny on 5th September, 2012 when it is expected to announce in USA two new Lumia phones, the company’s first to run on new Windows Phone 8 software of Microsoft. These phones will expand Nokia’s portfolio of Lumia model – four of which are already on the market – the Lumia 900, 800, 710 and 610. The older Lumia models run on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 software and cannot be upgraded to Windows Phone 8. The existing Lumia models have received luke-warm response and have not been able to take Nokia out of woods.
As per unconfirmed reports, new Lumia Windows 8 phone will be the first Lumia to have a multicore processor, which makes the device faster and more agile in Web surfing and able to present crisper graphics. The second new Lumia will be less expensive and its price is expected to be close to existing Lumia 610. Nokia is also expected to announce reduction of its existing range of Lumia range which are on Windows 7.5 platform to sustain sales during the transition to Windows 8.
“This is a make-or-break moment for Nokia,” said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at the technology research firm Gartner in San Jose, California. “Everything is resting on Windows Phone 8. If that doesn’t work, it will cause an existential crisis for the company.” Nokia’s transition to a Microsoft-centric smartphone business has been costly.
But Nokia’s journey with Windows 8 phones is not going to be smooth. After loosing patent battle to Apple, largest smartphone seller Korean giant Samsung has already started looking seriously at Windows 8 mobile OS and would not like to put all his future smartphones and tablets in Android basket. They have taken lead from Nokia in this front also and have launched their first Windows 8 phone – ATIV S in IFA in Berlin. Similarly, other smartphones makers would also power some of their new devices on Windows 8 to avoid any future legal wrangles with Apple.
Another significant event coming up is of Apple on 12th September, 2012, when this USA technology goliath is going to announce new iPad to pose serious challenge to its arch-rival Samsung’s flagship smartphone Galaxy S III and recently announced Galaxy S Note II. As usual, Apple has not confirmed or denied about this event and the picture will become clear in another two-three days time.
Motorola Mobility is also expected to announce new smartphone devices on 5th September, 2012 and Amazon is expected to launch new Kindle e-readers most probably on 6th September. Exciting days ahead for smartphones and tablets!
