Microsoft almost made a feature phone that looked like Windows Phone

Did you know that Microsoft, fifty-fifty after purchasing Nokia's phone business, never actually released a feature phone under the "Microsoft" brand? The Redmond-giant only ever released a scattering of characteristic phones afterward the acquisition, all of which remained "Nokia" branded. The "Microsoft" brand was reserved for its Lumia devices, likely to differentiate the feature phones from the Windows Phones.

That wasn't always going to be the plan, however. Based on an early on epitome we've got our hands on, the visitor was building itself a "Microsoft" branded feature phone that borrowed the aforementioned industrial designs institute in the Lumia 550 and 950, and rocked a feature telephone Bone built to look similar Windows Phone. This is the canceled Microsoft "RM-1182" or equally nosotros adopt to call it, the Microsoft Dumb Phone.

Although the existence of this handset has leaked before, equally far as I'm enlightened nobody knew about the piece of work Microsoft had put into the phone's OS to go far look like a Windows Telephone. This characteristic telephone has everything from live tiles (ish) to Microsoft Account integration that lets you sync your account data, including contacts and email direct to the phone, just similar on a Windows Telephone.

Windows Phone lookalike

This handset was in development throughout 2022, meaning the OS was skinned to look similar Windows 10 Mobile. The main menu looks familiar to the Starting time screen on Windows 10 Mobile, with a grid of tiles that can be rearranged to your liking. You can even customize the background and emphasis color used throughout the OS, and all the app icons are using Microsoft's MDL2 design language. The live tiles are semi-alive, being that they will display the number of missed notifications from an app, simply won't evidence much more than than that.

The phone comes with several built-in apps, including the usual Phone, SMS, Contacts, Photos, Camera, Alarms, Files, and a spider web browser, all themed to look a little flake like they do on Windows Phone. Also arranged are a agglomeration of other Microsoft apps, including Outlook Mail and Calendar, GroupMe, and OneNote. Unfortunately, those apps don't function in 2022. It even has an Extras card, found only Lumia Windows Phones, with a bunch of extra utilities in it.

It also has a quick action centre which also takes pattern inspiration from the Notification Center and its quick actions on Windows 10 Mobile, just accessible from the Settings app. Speaking of the Settings app, it has your usual feature phone options, with the addition of Microsoft Business relationship setup. It comes with all the sounds you can find on a Windows 10 Mobile device too, and even has a unique kicking up sound that's very Windows Phone-y.

In typical Windows Phone manner, the telephone as well comes bundled with some Gameloft games, including Spider-Man Ultimate, Asphalt, and a few others.

Pretty average hardware

For a feature phone, the hardware is okay. Information technology'southward a small phone, with a 2.five-inch low-quality display, plastic vanquish, a one.92 MP camera on the back, and a 1200mAh battery. Nigh feature phones accept excellent battery ranging from days to weeks, and it looks similar this Microsoft feature phone is no different.

Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain the back shell along with our prototype, just we know what it'd look similar thanks to that earlier 2022 leak. It has a Microsoft logo on the back, just similar the Microsoft Lumia devices did, matching the branding found on the front on the handset.

My question is what was Microsoft planning to call this device? Would it have been a Lumia handset? The Microsoft Lumia 150? Who knows. It's probable Microsoft was merely going to phone call it the "Microsoft 150" or something, omitting the Lumia make entirely. Or perhaps Microsoft was planning to use the Asha brand, or an entirely new brand for Microsoft feature phones.

Either way, this projection faded abroad rather speedily after Microsoft made the internal decision to scale back its mobile efforts. This handset, along with the Lumia 750, Lumia 850, and plenty other Microsoft branded phones, were canceled. The only survivors were the Lumia 550, 650, 950 and 950 Xl, before killing the Lumia line entirely and selling off virtually of its Nokia assets.

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