By Prince Osuagwu

WHY would Nokia wait for now to bring the best?
Perhaps it ‘s new motto is the saying “save the best for last.’ With the way it’s now going, does the tech giant have there more up its sleeve?

Of all the device makers who are cashing in on the market research that discovered Nigerian phone lovers to prefer bold screen and multiple SIM devices, only Samsung has been able to think of it on the high end, with its Grand Duos, Galaxy Grand devices.

But the recent release of Nokia’s XL, a dual SIM brand, brings a different dimension into mobile phone space with multiple Sim specifications. This could probably be a swoop-in on the market. No one expected it from Nokia. Though it has other brands  on dual sim specifications, they have been on the low end spectrum.

As its name suggests, the Nokia XL is a large device. The 5-inch device is the largest in Nokia’s family of Android-running phones. However, the XL like others in the X series, carries Nokia’s customized version of dual-SIM connectivity, and 5-megapixel main camera and a secondary, front cam.

For users like me, Nokia disappointed in the thickness and weight of the device. Not only is it thick, it’s also very heavy, measuring about 190g. But it compensates with its usual solid architecture. One can hold the device tightly without fear of having it  creak.

Design-wise, the XL follows Nokia’s signature design language with a soft plastic wrap-around shell.  Apart from one back key in front, all physical keys are on the right side  including the power/lock key in the middle, and the volume rocker above it, and both are plastic, comfortably within reach of your thumb and very easy to press.

It doesn’t have much of the sharp screen you can see on the Nokia PureView 808, but there are great and vivid colours and Outdoors.
The screen comes with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, which works out to a pixel density of the very low 189ppi.

Like most phones, it may be difficult to use under direct sunlight. The user may have to be forcing his stare or shielding the screen due to high reflectivity of the screen. But what thrills  is its lively, vivid colours and it has apparently the best screen on an affordable phone in the market today.

It was so shocking, to hear, recently, that Nokia, an undoubtedly top brand in the mobile market ceded its Mobile arm to Microsoft, another top flight brand. People wondered why, because Microsoft’s venture into mobile devices in the past had been  anything but successful. At least its first stint in the business was with Kin mobile and lasted not more than two years.

Social netwoking
Kin was a short-lived mobile phone line from Microsoft designed for users of social networking.Microsoft targeted the phones towards men and women between ages of 15 and 30.
It was manufactured by Sharp Corporation and sold through Verizon Wireless.

It was reported that Microsoft invested about $1billion in two years developing the Kin platform which based on Windows CE.

The Kin ONE and TWO went on the market in May 2010. Within two months, Verizon stopped selling the phones because of poor sales. As a result Microsoft scrapped its planned European release, stopped promoting the devices, ceased production, and reassigned the Kin development team to other projects.

But it’s becoming so interesting these days to see these two, relatively conservative companies, coming out of their shelves to join the trendy outlook of today’s mobile world. It now gives a better understanding as to why they fused. Nokia XL is an innovation.