Microsoft kills off Nokia's Asha and Series 40, says new high-end Windows Phone handsets are coming soon

We have more breaking news related to Microsoft, after earlier today the Redmond giant announced that it would cut 18,000 jobs “in the next year”, and it would shift Nokia X product designs to become Windows Phone-based Lumias.

According to The Verge, which obtained an internal memo sent by Jo Harlow to employees, Microsoft will stop supporting and developing Nokia Asha and Nokia Series 40 devices over the next 18 months. The Nokia X line is included here as well.

The last Asha handset announced by Nokia is the Asha 230 - pictured on the left - which was released in February as “the most affordable touch device ever” (costing around $62).


Freed from Nokia’s feature phones, Microsoft will try to lure customers to Windows Phone, as this is (and will be) available on handsets at all price ranges. Speaking of it, Jo Harlow mentioned that new high-end Windows Phone products will be announced “very soon.”

Microsoft also wants to get rid of Nokia MixRadio, and intends to sell it. Apparently, unnamed third parties are showing “strong interest” in MixRadio - which, in Nokia’s words, is “a radio station app that seems to always know the music you want to hear.”

source: The Verge