launch

The Samsung ATIV S has started shipping in Russia with orders being fulfilled from Wednesday, 20th. The Windows Phone was priced in the country late last month and made available for purchase in the first week of February. The handset is stocked at multiple Samsung stores, as well as online retailer Euroset.

We're not ones to go with the saying, "We told you so." But, well, we told you so. All you hungry consumers who are O2 UK customers can now relax as the Lumia 920 is heading to O2 this month. The UK mobile operator has listed the flagship Windows Phone on the official website, also revealing a February release (though no exact date has been provided).

It was only yesterday when we covered Vodafone's plans to launch a number of Windows Phone devices, and today the UK mobile operator has revealed just how much each handset will set the customer back. The move is a strong push for the platform, with majority of mobile operators in the country now sporting one or more Windows Phones.

Nokia appears keen on getting the seemingly popular and new to the crowd Lumia 620 into people’s hands. The phone has previously launched in Russia, Thailand, India (available soon), Germany (pre-order) UAE (AED 899) and China.

Now we’ve learned of three more places launching the super colorful and affordable Windows Phone 8 device: Spain, Turkey and it’s even coming to Canada.

The Lumia 620, the Windows Phone 8 smartphone that's currently launching in emerging markets, has made its way to Russia. Available in five different colours: green, black, white, pink and yellow, the Lumia 620 is offered to consumers with minute personalisation in mind. Already released in China, Thailand and India, the Windows Phone is priced aggressively against competing hardware.

The Nokia Lumia line of Windows Phones have arrived in India. At a press event in New Delhi, Nokia announced the launch of the Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and Lumia 620 Windows Phones.

The Lumia 920 and 820 will be available tomorrow from select local retailers for Rs. 38,199 (about $700 US) and Rs. 27,559 (about $505 US) respectively. The Lumia 920 will be available in black, red, yellow and white with the Lumia 820 being offered in red, yellow, white, black and cyan.

The more affordable Lumia 620 won't be available until early next month in magenta, yello, cyan, white and black colors. Pricing wasn't available and is expected to be announced closer to availability.

Source: Symbian Tweet; Thanks, everyone for the tip!

The Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 Windows Phones are slated for a mid-January launch, confirmed by a live chat session with a Nokia Care representative. January 11th was the date provided in the chat window, which solidifies the information handed out previously. It was said Lumia Windows Phone hardware would be heading to the market early 2012.

With the continued push by Microsoft into old and new markets for the combo of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, it’s nice to see one country get some attention too: Kuwait.

Reader of the site Mansoor B, who resides there, has sent us his report of the launch occurring this last week. Although the main focus was Windows 8 in the mall kiosk (which has a prime spot right in the middle of the place), Windows Phone 8 was represented too specifically with the Lumia 820 and 920.

We're still not sure just how many Windows Phone 8 devices both Nokia and HTC have sold thus far, but Steve Ballmer has informed shareholders in a meeting on Wednesday that Windows Phone handsets in the month since launch were 300 percent higher than the same period last year - we have growth.

Should what the executive revealed in the meeting be accurate, Windows Phone sales are increasing with the launch of new hardware. But until we see official numbers it'll remain speculation as to just how much the platform has grown by. Unfortunately, Ballmer failed to announce how many devices have been sold.