The latest version of Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system is due to be launched very shortly. Among a handful of manufacturers with handsets to showcase this software in the pipeline is Nokia. The Finnish manufacturer will be launching two handsets with Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820. Nokia has high hopes for these phones, and particularly the Lumia 920 which will be the company’s new flagship Windows Phone. It is been hailed as one of the most impressive and important releases from Nokia in recent years.
Because devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Apple iPhone 4S are proving to be so popular, Nokia, like many other smartphone manufacturers have struggled to make an impact on the market. With the Lumia 920 though, this looks set to change. Although the handset is yet to be released, the device has reportedly sold out of pre-order allocated stock in Italy. Despite the €599 price tag which many people thought would be too steep, it appears that the Italians are particularly excited about the Lumia 920. In Italy, around 10% of smartphone users own a device with the Windows Phone operating system, making it one of the software’s highest market shares.
One of the best known retailers in America may have also sold out of its Nokia Lumia 920 pre-orders. Last week, the handset appeared on Best Buy’s website with the option to pre-order the phone. However, just a day later this web page was taken down. There has been no official comment made regarding the reason, but many have speculated that it is because all the phones have been snapped up. Given the demand in Italy, it would not be surprising if this was the case.
With more and more users turning away from Apple’s iPhone line, the launch of the Nokia Lumia 920 will be the perfect opportunity for Nokia to gain back some of the market share that it has lost to the California based manufacturer over the last few years.
