A new report states Microsoft won’t release a high-spec, flagship Lumia smartphone running Windows Phone until late in 2015, and in the meantime it will concentrate on low and mid-range hardware instead. This information comes from anonymous sources speaking to geekongadgets.com, so it’s unofficial; but if it’s accurate, Microsoft’s strategy is a brave one.
According to the source, Microsoft won’t be announcing a flagship phone at Mobile World Congress in 2015, and will use the event to reveal low-end smartphones, plus a possible new entry into the 6-series of Lumia phones. Nokia announced the Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 at the beginning of April, which coincidentally was also when it launched the Lumia 930.
If Microsoft really doesn’t have a flagship phone waiting for us soon, and the rumor says we must wait until September 2015 before one is shown off, the Lumia 930 must do battle with all the new Android phones which will undoubtably go on sale before then. Is the Lumia 930 (and the even older Lumia 1520) desirable enough to hold off the inevitable Galaxy S6, LG G4, Xperia Z4, and HTC One M9? Microsoft’s obviously hoping so.
The anonymous source only discusses Mobile World Congress, and doesn’t mention CES or Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference, so there are other opportunities for it to release a high-end phone. Additionally, perhaps Microsoft has struck a deal with HTC, Samsung, or another brand to fill the void until a new top-of-the-range Lumia is ready? There’s also the leaked McLaren phone to consider, although it’s possible this phone has been cancelled, and is merely a prototype never to go on sale.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s Devices division was finalized recently, and since then, the company has gone through an extensive rebranding exercise, making 2014 a year of considerable change for Windows Phone. In November, the Lumia 535 became the first smartphone to launch without Nokia’s name attached.
