Lumia 630 sets records

THE Lumia 630, the latest smartphone device from Nokia, sets the record for a number of reasons.
It is the first Lumia device to run on the Windows Phone 8.1 platform, as well as the first Lumia dual SIM phone.
It is also the first device launched by Nokia since its final acquisition by Microsoft, worth about US$7 billion (RM22.5 billion).
At the Lumia 630’s recent introduction in Kuala Lumpur, Gary Chan – formerly Nokia’s head of marketing, but now known as the head of marketing for Microsoft Devices, Pan Asia – spoke positively about the acquisition.
“The integration is going well,” he said. “Microsoft is bringing its long history in software and connections, and Nokia is bringing its know-how and range of proprietary suites such as HERE, and services in imaging, gaming and other apps.
“Both groups have got great assets, and we look forward to working together as one big new family.”
The Lumia 630 comes at an affordable RM549, intending to make the updated Windows Phone 8.1 platform available to as many users as possible.
Despite the connotations associated with an entry-level price-tag, in this case, you definitely get more than what you pay for.
The phone has a removable, matte polycarbonate shell that comes in five colours, although only three are available at the moment – white, black and yellow. Its 4.5-inch ClearBlack display also shows off images and text at a much better resolution than Nokia’s previous new entry-level device, the Nokia X.
On the inside, the Lumia 630 is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon processor, and comes with a decent 1830mAh battery.
Besides the 8GB of internal storage, the Lumia 630 also provides 7GB of cloud storage and a microSD support of up to 128GB, perfect for data and apps.
The device isn’t all perfect; it’s downsides are its measly 5MP camera and 512MB of RAM. But it’s understandable considering its price point.
The Windows 8.1 platform also adds fun to the user experience and works alongside preloaded apps like Nokia’s HERE suite, Microsoft Office programmes, XBox Games, as well as any of the 245,000 apps available in Windows Store.
The much-praised transparent Live Tile feature is there, as well as several apps under the ‘Sense’ label that help users track and manage the way they use their storage, data, battery, WiFi hotspots and other phone features.
Communication is made easier with the fast and intuitive WordFlow function, which is long overdue in Windows devices. Users will now be able to type messages and texts just by swiping their fingers over the keys.
Sadly, people who have been looking out for Microsoft’s new personal assistant feature, Cortana, will have to wait a few more months for its arrival to our region.
In the meantime, there is still a lot about the Lumia 630 that is just enough to keep Windows Phone and Nokia fans excited for the future.
On the whole, Microsoft looks set for more positive developments in the future in the smartphone industry.