The Lumia series quietly says goodbye to the market

A few weeks ago we told you about the situation that Microsoft's smartphone division was going through. The push from Chinese companies, coupled with other factors such as a very discreet reception of Windows versions for smartphones, have caused Redmond to have recorded record losses in its subsidiary of smaller devices. This has resulted in a change in strategy on the part of the American company in which, in the coming years, tablets, the Cloud and the Internet of Things will focus the efforts, and also the investments, of this technology that in its day It was one of the most powerful in the world.

When talking about the great losers of the change of course that they will take from Microsoft, we must place special emphasis on the lumia series. These terminals, which in their day seemed to transform the smartphonesThey did not arouse the expected interest on the part of consumers either. The launch of the last terminals in the range during the last months of 2015 and the first of 2016, in contrast to the constant drip of new models by other companies, serves to better exemplify this story whose end is its disappearance complete market. What will be the impact of this latest decision made from Redmond?

The numbers

In recent months we have witnessed a decrease in the production rate of these terminals accompanied by a decrease in the number of sales of models equipped with Windows Phone. As specialized forums collect, during the first months of 2016, the market share of terminals equipped with this system in the Old Continent, has fallen from almost 10% in 2015, to 4,9 this year, in contrast to the increase in Android, which, as we mentioned a few days ago, had already been around 87% of the total. In our country, this imbalance is more evident, since of all the smartphones sold this year, only 0,6 have a link with Microsoft.

Decision

With these results, from Redmond they have decided to act forcefully. The drop in both sales and the number of units manufactured that we have mentioned before, has led to Microsoft to stop marketing the Lumia models permanently at the end of the year.  A compelling reason seems to be behind all this: The focus on the new generation of phablets coming from this technology and that could materialize with the new Surface Phone. To speed up the final withdrawal of these terminals, not only will production stop, but there will also be a significant price drop in order to exhaust all the stock.

Gradual withdrawal

Portals like Winbeta, affirm that the terminals of this family will disappear little by little and by markets. In the first moment, The United States will be the first country where they will stop being sold. A few weeks later, the same will happen in Europe and in the rest of the countries in other regions such as Asia where Lumia has been on sale. By devices, the oldest ones like the 550 and 650 will disappear first. The last will be the 950 XL. For now, Microsoft has stopped providing support for all these devices on its official website.

Price drop

As we reminded you before, to accelerate their disappearance from the market, those from Redmond have decided to lower the prices of their smartphones. In recent months, the most basic model, the Lumia 650, has dropped to 130 euros about. On the other hand, the highest have also suffered a steep decline in cost and it is possible to find the 950 XL for about 399 euros. However, this hides a nuance, and it is the fact that a replacement policy or guarantee is not guaranteed by the manufacturers. These discounts at first, would only be directed to the European market.

What awaits us in the future?

After rumors, speculation and unforeseen events that have taken place at Microsoft itself, the next jewel in the company's crown, Surface Phone, could see the light permanently or in the last months of 2017, or in the following year and whose production could begin shortly after several restructurings in the mobile division of the company. However, it is still too early to offer more information on this.

The focus only on a professional audience in a market dominated by terminals focused on users who seek in their phablets, a complete tool for leisure and navigation, could be one of the factors that have determined the silent farewell of Lumia to the market. After learning more about this measure taken by the creators of Windows, its causes and repercussions, do you think it is a success by those of Redmond? Do you think it would have been good to leave a little more scope for these devices to increase their acceptance among the public? You have more related information available, such as the economic results of the smartphone division in recent months so that you can give your own opinion.