Telecom
Microsoft Lumia 550: What’s In The Box
Microsoft Lumia 550, to start with, comes in a much smaller box than others more expensive in the range.
Actually, Microsoft’s Windows Phone has been pointed at the low-end of the smartphone market since the Lumia 520 was revealed to have sold 25 million units shortly after its debut.
Recall, in 2014, Nokia attempted to capitalize on this by releasing a successor to the Lumia 520, the 530. Now, what do you get in the box?
Thumbs Up For Lumia 550: with this device, Microsoft retains its history in the Lumia “world”, especially the pocket-friendly mobile devices it’s known for. Simply say, Lumia 550 would be a nice low-end Windows Phone.
Thumbs Down: As if Microsoft does not remember that this is a very competitive market, in Lumia, the 5 MP wide angle lens of the 535 and 540 is gone; the 8 MP camera of the 540, no way; the bigger battery is not there. Even though there is a LTE to gain in the 550, but that is a benefit of the Snapdragon 210 rather than a design feature; Microsoft should listen.
The Review: The Box
The pack is in a relatively nice looking box that contains the Lumia 550, a battery, a micro-USB charger and the manuals.
Please, there are no headphones or USB cables present, implying a bare essentials box for a bare essentials phone for a bare essentials user.
Design
The Lumia 550 principally, shares design cues with the Lumia 640. In other words, the flat sides, removable shell at the back complete with a painted on Microsoft logo and the buttons at the side are all there. The white (dull) coloured device I have is cool, but I think Microsoft’s colourers should up their game. To retain Nigerians as fans of the Lumia shell design, Microsoft should further study the market. Nigerians like shinning colours.
Still on design, Lumia 550 ships with a 4.7-inch display unlike the 540 or 535 with 5 inches. Depending on how you feel about size, this would either be a boon or a demerit for you. In terms of usability with either one hand or two, users looking for compact devices will be quite pleased with this one.
Display
With the 4.7 inch paired with a 720 p HD scree, the device’s display quality is worth experiencing. It is bright, colors are accurate, and the small size of the screen ensures that everything remains crisp as long as you don’t whip out the magnifying glass.
It is also a plus to the device that supports Glance Screen.
Cameras
The Lumia 550 comes with a 5 MP rear camera and a 2MP one for Skype and selfies. No no no! Why the step down from the 540 which featured an 8-megapixel camera with BSI and a 5 MP wide angle lens that was specifically touted as being for Skype? Has Microsoft forgotten that the hardware is a very important means to project the software and cloud solutions. How do I Skype with Lumia 550?
While using the rear snapper on OK pictures, it is somewhat slow to focus and no frills on this camera means that you are pretty much limited to taking bad-average images in good light with some bright spots here and there.
Performance And Battery Life
Windows 10 Mobile still runs smoothly on the Lumia 550.
Although, snapdragon 210 in the 550 is not one for speed, the revised processor brings goodies like Bluetooth 4.1 and LTE to the low end. Smile Communications needs to partner with Microsoft on this in bring it’s VoLTE to users. It will be very compatible.
The battery life on this device is par for the course, it lasted almost a whole day of medium use (messaging, Reddit, Twitter), only being charged at nighttime. For the price, one shouldn’t have complaints.
Software
As with all the newer Windows Phones manufactured and shipped since the launch of Windows 10, the 550 comes with Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile. Yeah, the OS is highly welcomed by many for its great ideas and unique features like Hello and Continuum, but none of those matter to users of the 550.
They are open to be the basic Windows 10 Mobile.
Unfortunately, the device it isn’t totally free of glitches and odd behavior. “For starters, the first set-up experience of Windows 10 Mobile is horribly broken. The instant you start up the phone and get done with all your accounts and configuration, it starts updating almost every single app on the OS, from the store all the way down to the phone app. While that is going on, it also begins to download and install an OS update in the background”.
An average Nigeria, without iota of idea on what’s going on may rush to return the phone to the seller or to Otigba for repairs, hence we are usually in a hurry! There ought to be a signage such as “Getting Your Device Started” until all the apps and things have finished preparing themselves.
Pricing
Depending on shop, online or offline, Lumia 550 sales between N25,000 to N27,000. *Consider the dollar/naira impasse as you approach the counter to buy. It’s not Microsoft’s making now.
Verdict
Essentially, aside from those few issues mentioned above, the Lumia 550 works as well as can be with Windows 10 Mobile. The Lumia 550 is really a nice low-end Windows Phone. But, this Lumia 550 is part of a series of devices made by Microsoft and cannot be judged in a manner that overlooks its history. The tech giant, seemingly, discarded all the good ideas of the Lumia 540 and 535 and reverts back to cutting costs so Microsoft can give these devices away to people who will hate them. Owing to its position in the market, Microsoft should be targeting “everyman” phone. They have made a name, but let it transform the device out there.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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