Microsoft announced Thursday that it will start selling the Nokia Lumia 630 smartphone in Asia this week, in its latest attempts to tap the low-end of the market.
The Lumia 630 - comes with both single-SIM and dual-SIM capabilities - is the first smartphone to hit the market with Windows Phone 8.1. It is also the first dual-SIM Lumia device that the company ever launched.
Mark Trundel, country manager, Hong Kong and Macau & head of sales pan Asia, Microsoft Devices, said the Lumia 630 dual-SIM will go on sale in Hong Kong today at a retail price of HK$1698 ($220).
It is also available exclusively through local mobile carrier PCCW-HKT, which offers the 3G smartphone for free for customers signing up to its Ultimate Mobility SIM plans at a monthly rate as low as HK$148 with an upfront payment of HK$980.
Trundel said Hong Kong is one of the first Asian markets to launch the smartphone, which will also hit the retail shelves in other markets including India and the Philippines within next few weeks.
Microsoft announced the Lumia 630 last month at its BUILD conference, alongside its counterpart, the 635 (which supports 4G LTE), and the Lumia 930.
The phone comes with latest quad-core Snapdragon processor, and a 4.5-inch Gorilla Glass 3 display protecting the screen against damage. It showcases a new matte polycarbonate design with changeable shells available in different colors including green, orange, yellow, black and white.
Other features include 512MB of RAM, 8GB storage with microSD card slot, 5MP camera for photos and videos, and a 1,830 mAh battery.