Yesterday Nokia unveiled its first Windows Phone 7 handsets to the world. The widely expected Lumia 800, based on the N9, is the high-end offering. What's of more interest to many is the 710, a cheaper offering that boasts similar enough specs to make it a compelling proposition.

The 800 is expected to go for around £450 SIM-Free, harking back to top-end SIM-Free prices of old and certainly nowhere near the £700 price of the top-end iPhone (though this does pack significantly more memory and other extras), which in itself may help it to sell. The 710, however, will be closer to the £250 mark, and its revival of Nokia's Express-On coloured covers (as they used to be called) may make it a favourite among younger phone buyers.

There have been a few potential blunders. "Lumia" is a new brand and only time will tell if Nokia can plant it successfully in the hearts and minds of consumers. For me, the brand needed to be stronger. The colour options on the 800, basically neon blue and neon pink, are garish, but may attract wondering eyes that end up settling on the black version. Spec-wise, the handsets don't stand up particularly well to some of their Android competitors, but then Nokia have always been a little like Apple in that regard and probably won't jump on the spec bandwagon.

I don't think this announcement alone is enough to reverse Nokia's fortunes. However, it's a start, and it'll all depend now on how quickly Nokia can follow the debut Lumia devices up with others, and an ecosystem to support them.

More info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15459118