Microsoft Lumia 430 Specs and Price
The Lumia 430 is a dual SIM smartphone that comes with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software, a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard memory (expandable to 128GB via the microSD slot). It also features a 4.0 inch WVGA display, a two megapixel and 0.3 megapixel sensor respectively. The battery is 1500mAh. The Lumia 430 comes with Microsoft Office, Skype and OneDrive pre-loaded. As usual, there’s Microsoft’s offer of some free OneDrive storage as well – 15GB for new users, and another 15GB for anyone using the service to back up snaps from the 430. The Lumia 430 costs only $70 and will be rolling out in select markets (Africa inclusive) in April 2015. The price may vary a little by the time the device gets to the different emerging markets but at least Microsoft was bold enough to put a price tag on their new phone.
The need for a $50 smartphone for Africa
Dignited EIC David Okwii made case for the need of a more affordable smartphone for Africa in his article ” Which mobile Vendor will deliver the ultimate $50 smartphone for Africa?” In this post, he chronicles the journey of multiple phone companies and their efforts in delivering the ultimate $50 smartphone. Telecoms wrote an article about smartphone penetration in Africa stating that,
What does the perfect $50 smartphone for Africa look like?
We earlier wrote in detail about what to consider when making a smartphone for Africa as a unique market. The perfect $50 smartphone for Africa has to consider key features like price, 3G, WiFi, Dual SIM feature, USSD, good battery, a torch, radio, SD card and good distribution/access. With the Lumia 430, we are only $20 away from the much needed $50 smartphone. At that price, I could care less about camera or display quality.
Who will deliver the ultimate $50 smartphone for Africa
Will it be Apple? of course not. We don’t expect it from HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony, OnePlus One, Huawei, ZTE or iDroid. The emerging Afrocentric brands like Tecno, Infinix and Innjoo are likely candidates and are not so far away from achieving this even though it’s not something they have focused on. Google has experimented with this in India under the Android One program in partnership with Micromax Spice and Karbonn but they still haven’t hit the $50 sweet spot. May be they should consider partnering with the likes of Tecno, Infinix or Huawei. Microsoft Lumia 430 is the closest we have come to and we shall keep our eyes open for the device manufacturer who will be brave enough to deliver the much anticipated $50 smartphone for Africa.
