Seattle Times technology reporter
Microsoft has unveiled yet another low-priced smartphone designed to gain fans in the developing world.
The Lumia 430, with an estimated price tag of about $70 before taxes and subsidies, will be rolled out in markets from Eastern Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia beginning in April, the company said.
The Redmond company has spent much of its first year in charge of Nokia's handset business rolling out phones that look a lot like the Lumia 430. It's been more than a year since the company released a high-end smartphone designed to compete with the likes of Apple's iPhone 6 or Samsung's Galaxy line.
Microsoft, which has struggled to gain traction with its phone slate in mature markets like the U.S. and Western Europe, is pushing for greater market share in part by selling to consumers that are upgrading to a smartphone for the first time. For a deeper look at that strategy behind the phone, see our report from earlier this month on Microsoft's ambitions in emerging markets.
Meanwhile, the company is waiting to release its high-end hardware until the launch of Windows 10, the upcoming version of Microsoft's operating system expected to be released in this summer.
Microsoft says the Lumia 430 — the cheapest Windows phone on the market — will be able to run Windows 10. The device features a 4 inch display, front- and rear-facing cameras, and 8 GB of storage space.
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