In a world of smart, sometimes you've just got to be dumb. That's Microsoft's strategy, highlighted by today's debut of the $25 Nokia 130 feature phone.
Whether in the market for your first cell phone or just looking for a backup device while on vacation, the Nokia 130 comes with a 1.8-inch color display and a battery that lasts up to 36 days on standby.
It also boasts a built-in video player, a music player with up to 46 hours playback on a single charge, and everyday essentials like a flashlight, FM radio, and USB charging.
"With handsets like the Nokia 130, we see tremendous potential to deliver the experience of a 'mobile-first' world to people seeking their first device, and we continue to invest in ultra-affordable devices that will introduce people to a 'cloud-first' world," Jo Harlow, Microsoft's corporate vice president for phones, said in a statement.
Available in two variants—single- or dual-SIM—the Nokia 130 comes with support for expandable microSD storage up to 32GB, as well as the Bluetooth-enabled SLAM app for sharing digital content without an Internet connection.
"As demand in the affordable mobile segment continues to grow, Microsoft remains committed to delivering market-leading mobile innovation at each and every price point," Harlow said. "It is estimated that at least 1 billion people in the world still do not have a mobile phone, while at the same time there is increasing demand for reliable backup phones in both mature and high-growth markets."
But don't get your hopes up to buy your own low-cost handset. Expected to ship in the third quarter of the year, Microsoft will launch its red, black, or white Nokia 130 in select markets—specifically emerging markets like China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Microsoft is not the only company experimenting with super low-cost phones. In June, Mozilla announced plans to bring its affordable Firefox OS devices to India in the next few months. That came after it promised at CES to release a "flood" of $25 smartphones.
Check out the new Nokia 130 in the video below.