It's always an entertaining thing to watch a new device launch, especially one the carrier themselves claim will top anything they've done before -- including the iPhone. So why in the world did AT&T choose to launch their new flagship Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 900, on a date when most of their stores were closed?
The New York Times is reporting that the new Nokia Lumia 900 launched as scheduled on Easter Sunday, April 8 -- but the debut became something of an Easter egg hunt itself, given that almost all of AT&T's retail stores were closed, as were Microsoft and Best Buy outlets. Ma Bell started accepting preorders for the new Windows Phone handset more than a week ago, and those orders were delivered last Friday, April 6.
"It's odd that such a highly anticipated phone is so difficult to purchase in a store on its release date, at least in New York," the report notes. "Analysts and tech followers view the Lumia 900, priced at $100, as the make-it-or-break-it device for Microsoft and Nokia, two tech giants who are struggling to gain a foothold in the smartphone market. Nokia made the Lumia's hardware, and Microsoft made its software, Windows Phone 7."
Out of 39 AT&T stores in Manhattan, the majority were closed on Easter Sunday or never answered their phone; a few that were open failed to even have the Lumia 900 in stock. Ironically, stores with an automated message were busy plugging the iPhone 4S -- making no mention of Nokia's "make or break" handset.
"There was some Lumia-related action in Times Square on Friday night, when Nokia sponsored a performance by the pop singer Nicki Minaj to spread the word about the phone," the report continues. "Nokia roped off a section of Times Square and blasted promotional messages on screens for the show, and even served free signature cocktails with names like 'Lumia Light' and 'Beautifully Different.' There was only a single table of Lumia 900 phones on display, ignored by most of the guests in attendance."
The consensus from web forums frequented by Windows Phone junkies seems to be that AT&T is the weak link in the chain, which echoes longtime complaints from iPhone owners as well. By all accounts, Nokia has delivered slick hardware and Microsoft has followed through with the promising Windows Phone OS, but where is the carrier support -- especially considering the Lumia 900 is exclusive to Ma Bell for some undetermined amount of time?
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