Even though the iPhone is our handset of choice, we admit to being intrigued by Microsoft's mobile underdog, Windows Phone. Also, everyone likes a comeback story, and both Redmond and Nokia sure could use one. Judging from early reviews, AT&T's Lumia 900 may not quite be the device to do it.
The first reviews of the new Nokia Lumia 900 hit the web on Tuesday night ahead of its release this Easter weekend, and the response is fairly mixed. The handset is supposed to be a turning point for Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, which hasn't made much headway in the market since its introduction two years ago, largely due to the popularity of the iPhone and a flood of Android devices.
A big part of the Windows Phone dilemma is lack of carrier support here in the U.S., but that's changed with this week's Lumia 900 release. Having lost its exclusivity on the iPhone, AT&T is pushing Nokia's latest harder than anything they've done in the past, particularly since the Lumia 900 runs on their fledgling 4G LTE network.
On the positive side of the coin, Gizmodo called the Lumia 900 "a phone that every single person should consider owning" -- and that's made far easier by the ridiculously low $99.99 price of admission with a two-year agreement (and even cheaper when purchased via Walmart or Amazon Wireless).
Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal is more middle of the road with his Lumia 900 review, saying it's perfect for high-end smartphone owners on a budget or those who are already fans of Windows Phone, "but the phone had just too many drawbacks in my tests to best its chief competitors."
Finally, Joshua Topolsky at The Verge was having none of it -- after heaping praise upon the Lumia 900 hardware (with the exception of the camera, which he was disappointed by), the review essentially fingers Windows Phone as the key reason the device won't be winning over the masses as Microsoft, Nokia and AT&T might hope.
We'll have our own take on the Nokia Lumia 900 soon enough -- meanwhile, you'll have your own chance to grab one this Sunday, April 8 at an AT&T retail store near you.
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