This week, Nokia announced new smartphone offerings, one of which will be the first sold in the U.S. to feature the Windows Phone 8.1 OS. Additionally, the company was also selected by CaixaBank as the preferred retailer of employee smartphones.
Also this week, research was released showing the potential user savings of smartphone kill switches and Apple plans production of iPhone 6 display screens.
Nokia unveils Lumia 930, 635 and 630
On April 2, Nokia announced three new Lumia smartphones, including the Lumia 635, the first device available for purchase in the U.S. powered by the Windows 8.1 operating system. This summer, customers will be able to attain the Lumia 635, Nokia's flagship offering, from T-Mobile and MetroPCS. Nokia's new Lumia 630 will also feature Windows 8.1 and is the first Lumia offering featuring dual-SIM capabilities.
The Lumia 630 and 635 include a Snapdragon quad core processor, a colorful design with replaceable outer shells and a 4.5-inch display. These devices also come preloaded with SensorCore and Bing Health and Fitness, as well as Microsoft Office and free streaming Nokia MixRadio. The Lumia 930 features a 20-megapixel camera, a 5-inch screen and metal and polycarbonate design.
CaixaBank selects Nokia as employee smartphone provider
Also this week, Nokia announced that Spanish financial firm CaixaBank had selected the company as its preferred smartphone vendor to supply devices for employees. Within the agreement between the two organizations, CaixaBank will purchase 30,000 Nokia Lumia smartphones. The financial organization aims to underscore its leading market position and boost service quality by enabling employees with the new hardware. Administrators chose the Lumia 925.
Kill switch could save an annual $2.6 billion
On April 1, the Yankee Group introduced new researching showing how a smartphone kill switch could save users a significant amount of money each year. The component is a new technology that would make lost or stolen devices useless to criminals. This could save American users as much as $2.6 billion in costs associated with replacing and insuring devices.
Apple to start iPhone 6 screen production in May
Also on April 1, Reuters reported that Apple will launch production of screens for the iPhone 6. The first displays produced will be 4.7-inch screens, with 5.5-inch screens being produced after. Both will represent a step up from currently available 4-inch screens on the iPhone 5S and 5C.
