Nokia unveils next-generation Lumia 920 & 820 smartphones

NEW YORK: Days ahead of the expected launch of Apple's next generation iPhone, Nokia on Wednesday fired its most credible salvo yet to capture marketshare in the lucrative and hyper-competitive smartphone industry.

Launching the next generation of devices in its Lumia series-the Lumia 920 and 820 smartphones-it appeared to be building on its hardware strengths and its partnership with Microsoft's Windows Phone platform to stem its sliding smartphone marketshare.

According to research firm IDC, in the first quarter of 2012, Nokia's marketshare fell 50.8% year-on-year, while Samsung gained 267% and Apple gained 88.7%.

The performance of the new Lumia devices, especially the 920 smartphone, is crucial for Nokia, which posted a $1.7 billion loss last quarter. It needs a best-selling phone real soon in a brutally competitive marketplace.

In recent days, however, the company's stock has rallied, as investors reposed confidence in the Finnish phone-maker's ability to come up with a winning device on the Windows platform. The legal setback suffered by Samsung and the Android ecosystem it backs in a recent legal battle with Apple, is expected to benefit rival platforms such as the Windows Phone.


The Lumia 920 boasts several features that elicited applause from New York's hard nosed tech press. The focus was on a 4.5-inch high-resolution display, built-in wireless charging that requires the user to merely place the phone on a small mat to charge, a feature called City Lens that identifies city blocks through the camera lens and overlays information on location and establishments, and an advanced camera with capabilities the company claimed beats many digital SLRs. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor at the heart of the device offers greater power with lower energy consumption, a spokesperson said.

(The reporter is in New York on the invitation of Nokia.)