MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS
NOKIA TO UNVEIL CHEAPER LUMIA
Nokia is poised to unveil a new, cheaper smartphone using Microsoft’s Windows Phone software at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona next week. The struggling Finnish giant wants to target a wider market for its new range of smartphones, with its flagship Lumia 800 failing to make the desired impact at the high end of the market. Nokia last year dumped its own smartphone software platforms in favour of Microsoft’s Windows Phone.
HTC TO BEGIN ITS FIGHTBACK
HTC is expected to roll out four new handsets models at the Barcelona showcase event, including an ultra-slim device, currently codenamed the HTC Ville, and one that uses advanced quad-core chips. Other reported models include a high-end design codenamed the Edge that uses a quad-core CPU, boosting processing speeds, as well as a couple of mid-range smartphones. HTC is struggling to regain the momentum it has seen in recent years after a poor spell.
LG BACKS 3D – AGAIN
LG is sticking to its 3D guns at Mobile World Congress, with the release of the LG Optimus 3D Max, an upgrade of the world’s first glasses-free 3D handset. The screen will be improved and it will feature NFC contactless technology – a major theme for this year’s event. Its predecessor is an impressive piece of technology, if not a very good phone. The jury is out on whether there will be any demand for it but LG may be wise to corner the market for mobile 3D early.