Coming to Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) on February 20, is the feature-rich Nokia Lumia Icon. I’ve had a lot to say in the past with regards to purchasing a Windows-based phone, but have recently backtracked. First the Lumia 1020’s 40-megapixel camera boggled my mind, then the processing power of the six-inch Lumia 1520 had me rethinking my position.
Part of my problem with the 1520 was its “phablet” size and the fact that I already have a tablet. Now, or rather on the 20th, Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) will be bringing the Lumia Icon to Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) and, while not a small phone, it’s great to see all the features of the 1520 shrunk down if only a smidge.
New Nokia Lumia Icon could be special
This 5-inch, quad-core smartphone with a 20-megapixel camera has the potential to be something special for Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) customers. The phone will go for $200 with a 2-year contract. Which is a steal if you consider that it’s amongst the top three Windows-based phones to be found on this planet.
It’s a bit boxy, and it is a handful, a full handful but it’s a great phone.
The screen is as big a star on this phone as Julie Roberts is on a screen. Offering a 5-inch 1080p HD AMOLED screen is no easy feat, never mind the brightness, color, and viewing angles offered by the Icon.
The audio/video suite
While the sides offer the buttons and controls that you would expect, the back plays host to a 20-megapixel camera module and dual-LED flash with six-lens Carl Zeiss optical assembly and optical image stabilization.. The front-facing camera rests above the screen offset to the right. For sound, four microphones take care of your audio needs and the phone is fantastic in this department. The only downside to this media package is the fact that you can’t expand the phone’s memory with a microSD card to fully utilize the camera and microphones.
The phone comes standard with the Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) Black Software update , which adds a bunch of Nokia apps in addition to the growing list of Windows apps and also support for low-energy Bluetooth.
Like any Windows Phone, you’ll find some typical features, like multitasking, voice actions, and music identification. There’s Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. Integrated Qi wireless charging is also integrated into the phone.
Nokia Here maps, MixRadio, Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) Beamer, and Drive+ navigation come from the maker while Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), in addition to bringing its Office Suite to the party, also is responsible for Bing Weather, Bing apps are other Microsoft additions.
While these are all great features, there is more. Enough that you may wish to have a gander next week when it becomes available.
