Microsoft has officially launched a new Lumia-branded Windows 10 Mobile smartphone.
The new Lumia 650 is priced at $199, comes in black or white and will only be made available in a handful of European markets, starting February 18.
The smartphone is being presented as a “business class” device, with a focus on productivity and security. “By providing a consistent experience across PC and phone through the power of Windows 10, we think professionals and Windows fans alike will love using it every day,” said Samuli Hänninen, general manager of Microsoft’s phones program management.
Windows 10 Mobile is Microsoft’s latest attempt to succeed in the smartphone world, a market strongly dominated by Android and iOS devices.
Last year, Microsoft wrote off $7.6 billion following its acquisition of mobile phone giant Nokia, with CEO Satya Nadella saying at the time that Microsoft would refocus the company’s efforts away from “devices and services.” But that clearly doesn’t mean that it’s giving up completely on its smartphone dream, as evidenced by the four new Windows 10 mobile devices now on the market.
The latest launch comes just two months after the $139 Lumia 550 was made available in Europe. The Lumia 550 was only the third Windows 10 smartphone to launch, following the Lumia 950 and 950 XL in November. Microsoft has also repeatedly delayed the rollout of Windows 10 Mobile to existing Windows Phone handsets, though that’s expected to finally happen sometime this month.
