Nokia launches cheapest Lumia phone at Rs. 12,999

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Aiming a larger share in the country's smartphone market, Finnish handset maker Nokia on Friday launched its Windows-based phone 'Lumia 610' at Rs 12,999, the cheapest device in the series.

The company has two other devices in the category - Lumia 710 priced at about Rs 15,000 and Lumia 800 at about Rs 24,000.

"The Nokia Lumia 610 will introduce Windows Phone to a new generation of smartphone users ... It is designed to appeal to a more youthful audience purchasing their first smartphone," Nokia India Director (Smart Devices) Vipul Mehrotra told reporters here.

This is an offering that competes strongly on quality against other smartphones at its price point and provides access to one lakh applications, Xbox Live, Nokia Music, Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps, he added.

"It showcases our commitment to creating a robust line up of devices on the Windows Phone platform that caters to all," Mehrotra said.

Nokia and Microsoft had announced their partnership last year to help fight stiff competition from rivals Apple and Samsung in the smartphone market.

The Lumia series, the first one from the alliance, was introduced in globally in October last year. Nokia Lumia 610 comes with features like Mix Radio (a free mobile music-streaming and offline listening app) and Nokia Transport (tracks public transportation directly on a mobile device in more than 430 cities worldwide, including bus and train routes for 45 cities globally).

It runs on the latest version of Windows Phone 7.5 and has a touchscreen, 8 GB internal storage, 5MP camera and runs on a 800 MHz processor. Besides, Nokia has also partnered with Warner Bros for their upcoming movie 'The Dark Knight Rises'.

As part of the alliance, the company has launched the limited edition TDKR Lumia 800, priced at Rs 24,999.

"Starting mid-July, 200 units of a special edition of Lumia 800 with smartphones with laser etched Batman logo and an exclusive for Lumia DKR App will be available exclusively for consumers in India," Mehrotra said.

Also, Nokia Lumia users will get access to exclusive content from the movie, including exclusive trailers, movie information, ringtones and games.

"A global initiative, the Nokia Lumia Dark Knight Rises campaign is an exciting initiative for Lumia consumers, that will recreate the movie's experience, right on the consumer's devices. The initiative will be supported by a full 360 degree marketing campaign," Mehrotra said.