Microsoft on Monday at MWC 2015 announced a couple of new Lumia phones that will both be upgradeable to Windows 10 once the company rolls out its latest desktop and mobile operating system. The two handsets are the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL that were leaked in the days preceding the event.
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The two devices are almost similar, though one is a phone and the other one a phablet, as their names suggest, but neither handset is the flagship Microsoft Lumia handset you might be waiting for.
The phones will be launched in March and they’ll both be available in a variety of colors. The Lumia 640 will cost €139 (3G model), €159 (LTE model) and come in single-SIM and dual-SIM versions. The phablet costs €50 or €60 more, depending on chosen version.
As for specs, both devices pack a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage — microSD support and 30GB of free OneDrive storage space is also included — and Windows Phone 8.1.
The Lumia 640 has a 5-inch HD display, 8-megapixel main camera and 2,500 mAh battery, while the Lumia XL has a bigger 5.7-inch HD display, 13-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics and 3,000 mAh battery
The full press release and more images follow below.
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Microsoft Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL: keeping you prepared for anything
Latest Lumia additions are upgradeable to Windows 10*; Microsoft scales more devices and services worldwide through partner collaboration.BARCELONA, Spain — March 2, 2015 — Today at Mobile World Congress 2015, Microsoft Corp. introduced Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, two new smartphones that give people greater flexibility and freedom to choose when and where they get things done. Both phones are upgradeable to Windows 10, which offers more personal computing and greater productivity, and will be available later this year. In addition, Microsoft highlighted how collaboration with companies such as AT&T Inc. and Qualcomm Technologies Inc. is helping to scale its devices and services to even more customers worldwide.
In a competitive marketplace, Microsoft continues to deliver innovative smartphone experiences at all price points. Both devices offer the seamless integration of hardware essentials — with a choice of screen sizes and camera capabilities — and Microsoft services to offer incredible productivity with affordability. With Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, people are prepared for anything — for work, at home and on the go:
· Smoothly and quickly access important documents or run popular websites, apps and games thanks to the onboard 1 GB of memory and powerful Qualcomm ® Snapdragon ™ processor featuring quad-core CPU running at 1.2GHz.
· Enjoy photos and videos on a crisp high-definition (HD) display — either 5 inches on Lumia 640 or 5.7 inches on Lumia 640 XL.
· Power through the day with battery to spare with a long-lasting battery — 2500 mAh for Lumia 640 and 3000 mAh for Lumia 640 XL.
· Capture detail-rich photos even in low light with the 8MP camera on Lumia 640 or 13MP ZEISS optics on Lumia 640 XL. Both feature LED flash, a front-facing camera for Skype video calling, and Lumia Camera software right out of the box.
· Enjoy the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim update, complete with one-swipe Action Center, Word Flow and Live Folders. People can also upgrade Lumia 640 and 640 XL to Windows 10 and enjoy its benefits as it becomes available later this year.
· Have the best of both worlds with LTE support available on dual-SIM models for the first time. In addition, all dual-SIM models will feature Smart Dual SIM to help ensure people never miss a call.Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL customers will be able to access new Windows 10 features and innovation through the Windows Insider Program, as well as upgrade to Windows 10 later this year. Key features and improvements of Windows 10 include new universal apps such as Office, Mail and Calendar, and Photos; Internet Protocol-based messaging from Skype and others integrated directly into the messaging experience; an entirely new browsing experience with the new Project Spartan browser; and extended integration of the Cortana personal assistant.
Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL also come with a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal, which includes the latest Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote) on the Lumia as well as on one PC or Mac and one tablet, plus 1TB of OneDrive storage, and 60 free minutes of Skype Unlimited Worldwide calling per month.**
“Our newest Lumia devices build on our momentum in the affordable smartphones space,” said Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for Phones at Microsoft. “With the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, we continue to make innovation accessible to more people. We have packaged competitive hardware with innovative Windows software and Microsoft services to help you achieve more, wherever and whenever you want.”
Lumia 640 XL will begin rolling out globally in March and will be available in matte cyan, orange and black, as well as both matte and glossy white. Lumia 640 will be available starting in April and will be available in glossy cyan, orange and white, as well as matte black. Both Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL will be available in single-SIM and dual-SIM LTE and dual-SIM 3G variants. Lumia 640 XL will also be available as a single-SIM 3G variant. Pricing will vary by market and operator; Lumia 640 is estimated to be around 139 euros for the 3G model and 159 euros for the LTE model, before taxes and subsidies. Lumia 640 XL will be around 189 euros for 3G and 219 euros for LTE, before taxes and subsidies.
In addition to expanding its device family, Microsoft announced a new service for small and medium-size businesses together with AT&T. Fully integrated, the AT&T Mobile Office Suite offers businesses easy and highly secure access to voice calls, email, calendars, instant messaging, HD videoconferencing, desktop sharing, file sharing and more.
About Microsoft Devices
The Microsoft Devices Group includes award-winning hardware used by over a billion people around the world, including Lumia smartphones, Nokia ultra-affordable feature phones, Xbox hardware, Surface and Surface Hub, Microsoft Band, and HoloLens.About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
*Like any upgrade to a new operating system, not every phone will support all possible Windows 10 features. Certain features and experiences will require more advanced future hardware.
**See office.com/information for details. Skype account required. Excludes special, premium and non-geographic numbers. Calls to mobiles are for select countries only. Skype available only in select countries. See FAQ for details.
