Those are some great specs for a very reasonable price.
I actually think the midrange is the most interesting area for mobile phones these days, particularly as more impressive hardware trickles down into the lower models and we reach the end of rapid hardware increases. For around $200-300 (or 150-200GBP) you can pick up powerful phone that will do almost everything a flagship will. They are an even more interesting proposition outside of the US, where a greater number of people tend to buy phones off-contract and thus are more sensitive to the unsubsidised price.
At the low end you have the Moto E and several of the Nokia Lumia devices at around the $100 price point, basically replacing the feature phone. I'd consider these over the cheap Android clones that may have better specs for the same price due to the build quality and software support.
Then, at the lower-end of the mid-range, you have this just announced Moto G (2nd Gen), alongside the Lumia 730 and a few others in the $200 bracket. Such a price is perfect for people like my parents who just want a phone with respectable smartphone features, solid build quality and reliability. I think this really is the sweet spot where sales and growth will occur - are there any other quality phones in this price bracket?
Going up to the higher side of the mid-range, you have the Nexus phones, the OnePlusOne, and the just announced Sony Z3 Compact and Lumia 830. Such phones will do pretty much everything more demanding customers are after in a smartphone, including myself. I imagine they will end up overshadowing the flagship phones, leaving them to just the tech-spec obsessed. Honestly, is there really any need for a $600 phone anymore?
I guess most integration would be fine - email, calendar and so on. There are WP alternatives for most services, i.e. OneDrive for cloud syncing, etc. - however iTunes, iCloud and so on could be an issue.
It could be MS's new marketing angle - "come to Windows Phone, we don't have any apps, and that's a good thing" :)
(Posting using a throwaway as I changed my noprocrast settings in HN as mentioned in these comments and ironically blocked my account for the day!)
Somewhat related, I've come to a similar conclusion myself recently but via app fatigue instead. I've been running a Windows Phone for over a year now, and although I loved the OS, constant remarks regarding the app gap made me wonder if I was missing out on the full smartphone experience.
Thus I obtained a Samsung Galaxy and logged into my old Android account, eagerly anticipating all those exciting apps I'd soon have access to at my fingertips. Going thought the Play Store was a great experience - Instagram, SnapChat, Yo, etc. - I installed every hyped app like I was on a crazed shopping spree. This included apps that simply replicated a web experience, e.g. Amazon Shopping, Quora, and even Go Daddy (in case I ever wanted to check my domain renewal status while out and about!)
The first week or so was exciting, I was in thrall of all the things I could potentially do with my phone and how (by some unknown means) these apps would help me live my life. However as the weeks went on I found that even though I had all these apps, I simply didn't use them. I realised that just having the technology available isn't enough, you have to have a want and need for it.
From this experience I've recognised what I personally need from a smartphone. For me it's about a good camera, music player, calendar, and a way to directly and privately communicate with my friends and family. Add to this a few key apps, covering transport/maps, gym, ebooks, podcasts, etc., and I'm good to go.
I now have a Nokia Lumia on its way to me in the post. I won't have the latest hot apps, but that's okay. And when the next big app does come around, hopefully at some point it will come to my platform, and if not I'll happily just get on with my work.
I actually think the midrange is the most interesting area for mobile phones these days, particularly as more impressive hardware trickles down into the lower models and we reach the end of rapid hardware increases. For around $200-300 (or 150-200GBP) you can pick up powerful phone that will do almost everything a flagship will. They are an even more interesting proposition outside of the US, where a greater number of people tend to buy phones off-contract and thus are more sensitive to the unsubsidised price.
At the low end you have the Moto E and several of the Nokia Lumia devices at around the $100 price point, basically replacing the feature phone. I'd consider these over the cheap Android clones that may have better specs for the same price due to the build quality and software support.
Then, at the lower-end of the mid-range, you have this just announced Moto G (2nd Gen), alongside the Lumia 730 and a few others in the $200 bracket. Such a price is perfect for people like my parents who just want a phone with respectable smartphone features, solid build quality and reliability. I think this really is the sweet spot where sales and growth will occur - are there any other quality phones in this price bracket?
Going up to the higher side of the mid-range, you have the Nexus phones, the OnePlusOne, and the just announced Sony Z3 Compact and Lumia 830. Such phones will do pretty much everything more demanding customers are after in a smartphone, including myself. I imagine they will end up overshadowing the flagship phones, leaving them to just the tech-spec obsessed. Honestly, is there really any need for a $600 phone anymore?