Nokia once dominated the mobile phone market with its sturdy devices that allow users to type in messages at an incredible speed. Now, Microsoft tries to revive this type of phones by releasing the Nokia 215.

Nokia 215 is the follow up for Nokia 210 and it comes in two variants, which are the Internet-ready Nokia 215 and Dual SIM variant Nokia 215. One of the attractive characteristics of the handset is its incredibly cheap price as will be available for very affordable for only $29 before taxes and subsidies. 

Both handsets share the same specs and features as the phone comes with 2.4-inch QVGA LCD display with 240 x 320 pixels and 166 ppi pixel density, which consumers probably have seen in the past. The phone runs with Series 30+ operating system and has a microSD slot for expandable storage up to 32 GB. It  also sports a 0.3-megapixel fixed-focus camera. Bluetooth 3.0, GPRS, and Micro-USB are the connectivity features of the Nokia 215. Users can search the Internet through the Opera Mini Browser and Bing Search.

Like other Nokia phones before, some of the prime features are built-in torchlight and stereo FM radio. The handset is available in different color variants – Bright Green, Black, and White. It is supported by an 1100 mAh removable battery that Microsoft claims will last for 29 days of standby time and 20 hours of talk time under 2G networks. In comparison, current smartphones like the iPhone 6 only boasts talk time of 9 hours. 

According to reports, both variants of the handset will be available in selected markets, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe in the first quarter of 2015. Obviously, the handset is targeted mainly toward emerging markets where this type of phone is widely used and preferred. 

Microsoft also has a line of updated Lumia smartphones offered for the higher end of the market.