New Lumia devices 'lack' design element

Dubai: The new Lumia smartphones, which Microsoft launched on Tuesday, are solid and have all the specs of a modern flagship device, but they don't have a feature or design element that will really make them stand out, an industry expert said.

“Most consumers will need a convincing reason to move away from iOS or Android to the relatively barren Windows ecosystem,” Daniel Gleeson, senior analyst at IHS Technology, told Gulf News.

He said that these new phones will definitely help Microsoft as it was badly lacking presence in the high-end market.

Nokia historically failed to gain much traction in North America and making inroads into the US market will be a “high priority” for Microsoft.

“As the US carriers move away from in-built device subsidies in contracts, this presents an opportunity for more affordable flagship devices in the market. If Microsoft supports the devices with marketing spend and gets the carriers to push the devices in store, Lumia could finally win significant market share in the US,” he said.

According to IHS, Microsoft's smartphone market share stood at just 2.8 per cent last year and is expected to contract to 2.6 per cent this year. It should see shipments increase in 2015, but will fail to grow as quickly as the overall market.