Microsoft’s Windows Phone may have lost 21% of its market share in the United States between January and April, but in Pakistan, Lumia sales grew by three-fold in the first-quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth-quarter of 2014, according to ComScore. The Microsoft phone even beat sales of Apple iOS phones in Pakistan, says a report from Phone Arena.
Lumia 535 drives Microsoft sales in Pakistan
According to Patrick Mercanton, head of marketing for Near-East, North Africa, Levant and Emerging Asia for Microsoft Mobile Devices, the company controls more than 50% of the feature phone market in Pakistan. This will drive Lumia sales ahead when the consumers look to upgrade their smartphone.
Entry-level smartphone Microsoft Lumia 535 performance is a major contributor in the success of the brand in Pakistan. Lumia 535 is a hot selling phone in the region, in the $100-$150 price range. Mercanton said that Lumia 535 is their most successful model, and is also the first one to carry Microsoft branding. The executive said that it is one of the best-selling smartphones in Lumia’s history in the region.
Microsoft Lumia 535 was designed to match emerging market demands. The phone has 5-megapixel front facing camera and a spacious 5-inch display at an affordable price of under PKR 15K. Mercanton also said that the success of this phone is a testament to how Pakistani consumers value Microsoft in the mobile space.
Focus on B2B
After seeing success with the Lumia 535, Microsoft is now looking to focus on B2B market, where the Lumia handset will be used along with the Microsoft’s many business-oriented products. Additionally, the company will also offer the Microsoft Lumia 430 Dual SIM, which will be packed with Windows Phone 8.1 and will be upgraded to Window 10 mobile eventually. The entry-level Lumia model should keep the Windows platform relevant in Pakistan.
Separately, Microsoft is reportedly working on various technologies to bring to the Lumia phones. According to the latest reports, the company is finally going to launch two new high-end Lumia smartphones. Over the last year or so, the firm has not releases any high-end phones, and kept itself limited to low and mid-range devices. Also of note, the latest report suggests that the company is testing an iris scanner for security for the 940XL model.
