Microsoft announces new Lumia handsets, camera updates

Microsoft announced two new Lumia phones aimed at the entry-level smartphone market and an update to its Windows Phone operating system for Lumia phones that looks to enhance the camera experience.

Microsoft also announced the Nokia Lumia 830. Priced at about $430 unsubsidized  it will begin rolling out globally this month. No word on U.S. carriers or exact availability.

Lumia 830 sports a 10 megapixel PureView camera, integrated wireless charging and what

Microsoft says is the thinnest optical image stabilization system to date on a Lumia. It comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office Mobile and 15GB of free OneDrive storage

Entry-level dual SIM Lumia 730 are "built for Skype calls and selfies," Microsoft says. They each have front-facing, wide-angle, 5-megapixel cameras and come with a three-month Skype Unlimited World subscription thrown in.

Windows Phone 8.1 focuses on speed, quality and making the camera more intuitive to use. It will initially roll out as an update in the fourth quarter for Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 and as an over-the-air update for Lumia 830 and later to other Lumia Windows Phone 8.

Smartphone wars are about to heat up. Samsung on Wednesday revealed its latest oversized Note handsets, including the Note Edge with a separate curved display alongside the right edge. And coming up on Tuesday, Apple is slated to take the wraps off its newest iPhone.

HTC announced a version of its flagship HTC One M8 for Windows Phone.

Microsoft also has been focused on its app eco-system, which has lagged Android and Apple. There are now about 300,000 apps including recent additions such as Uber and Fitbit.