Microsoft introduces Lumia 540 Dual SIM: crafted details and crisp, clear HD for under $150

-- With 5-megapixel front-facing camera for superb selfies and Skype video calls.

REDMOND, Washington, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday unveiled the Lumia 540 Dual SIM, designed for young, ambitious people looking for their first serious smartphone. The Lumia 540 Dual SIM features the latest Windows Phone 8.1 innovations and boasts a 5-inch HD display and crafted design details. It helps people stay productive on-the-go with Microsoft services like Skype and Office available out-of-the-box, and enables better mobile experiences, such as taking wide-angle selfies that fit in more of the action, thanks to the front-facing 5 megapixel camera. The new Lumia 540 Dual SIM is capable of upgrading to Windows 10 when the service becomes available later this year¹. It is priced to appeal to value-conscious consumers in markets like India, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific, starting at just $149².

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO

The Lumia 540 Dual SIM features quality-crafted hardware including a removable, durable back cover with a luminous, layered design³ and a generous 5-inch HD display for enjoying apps, photos, videos and the personalizable home screen. Built-in Skype integration enables people to switch seamlessly between voice and video calls, with the wide-angle, front-facing camera capturing even more of the conversation. The rear-facing 8-megapixel camera captures detail-rich photos with the help of an LED flash. Available apps include favorites such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram, with thousands more available from Windows Phone Store. Microsoft services like Office, Outlook and up to 30 GB of free cloud storage via OneDrive⁴ mean people have the productivity tools to achieve more, anywhere. Smart Dual SIM allows people to assign unique profiles to their SIM cards, such as "work" or "family," to help them better manage daily communication.

"The Lumia 540 Dual SIM is a testament to our passion for product-making that is reflected across the entire Lumia product portfolio and will continue with future devices," said Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for Phones at Microsoft. "With the Lumia 540 Dual SIM, we've made it possible to deliver a smartphone with strong design and technology credentials that is also fun to use, and incredible value for money."

The Lumia 540 Dual SIM is powered by a Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ processor featuring a quad-core CPU running at 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB⁵ of mass memory. The device will start rolling out in India, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Italy beginning in early May 2015. Pricing for the Lumia 540 Dual SIM starts at $149.⁶ It will be available in four colors: cyan, orange, white and black.⁷  

About Microsoft Devices

The Microsoft Devices Group includes award-winning hardware used by over a billion people around the world, including Lumia smartphones, Nokia ultra-affordable feature phones, Xbox hardware, Surface and Surface Hub, Microsoft Band, and HoloLens.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

¹ Like any upgrade to a new operating system, not every phone will support all possible Windows 10 features. Certain features and experiences will require more advanced future hardware.
² Estimated price before local taxes and subsidies. Actual pricing may vary by market.
³ Except in black.
⁴ 15 GB free space on OneDrive on signup and additional 15 GB free when camera roll backup is activated.
⁵ Memory available for users may be less than indicated due to pre-loaded operating system and applications.
⁶ Before local taxes and subsidies. Actual pricing may vary by market.
⁷ Device color varies by market.