Consider it the true replacement for a basicfeaturephone, ticking all the smartphone checkboxes without having to either spend a lot up front or else shackle yourself to one carrier.
Much like the PC market, basic and feature mobile phone volumes are falling as consumers migrate not only to smartphones, but smartphones at low- and mid-tier price points.
Offering a new Windows featurephone, in addition to upgraded basic options on lower-priced models, will likely help the company keep a stable bottom line.