launch

Taking note of a number of Lumia 800 launch parties occurring across the world, the Czech Republic has joined in with Nokia putting on a show in Prague on January 26th to celebrate the launch of the 710 and 800 (February 1st). Two hundred journalists, developers and devoted fans were selected for the event, which featured a number of cool presentations and gimmicks.

From Windows Phone cakes to a water-rippling Lumia 800 floor projection, it looked like a unique experience to say the least. Nokia also began advertising the 710 and 800 in Prague (and beyond) as can be seen in the below photo, taken by Martin Suchan in a subway. 

Source: YouTube, @MartinSuchan, thanks Thomas for the tip and video!

Vodacom just held a really amazing launch party to welcome the Nokia Lumia 800 (and the 710 at a later stage) Windows Phone to South Africa. This particular event was the one we previously spoke about being held in Midrand.

Nokia South Africa recently announced that the Lumia 800 would be available from the 7th February. However yesterday we learned of a promotion starting tomorrow for the phone. The latter turns out to be correct and will most probably mark the start of the rollout to stores nationwide.

T-Mobile U.S. is set to launch the Lumia 710 in just under a week's time (for just $49.99 - not available for pre-order), and the stores are now starting to receive units (as can be seen above). The 710 is Nokia's first Windows Phone to launch in the states, and will mark the birth of a huge marketing campaign. 

With how Nokia has tackled Europe and the far east, it'll be interesting to see how the 710 is received in the U.S. and how the manufacturer pushes the handsets out the doors to consumers. Of course, we're still waiting on the Lumia 900 announcement, which will be the brother that's just finished working out at the gym.

Source: TmoNews

We know the Lumia 710 for T-Mobile, in both black and white versions, is just days from launching. In fact, it's exactly two-weeks from now on January 11th and T-Mobile already has it listed on the site as "coming soon".

The mid-range 710 features a 1.4Ghz CPU, 5MP low-aperture lens and "clear black" 3.7" LCD screen with physical buttons, making it quite the nice offering especially for the low-price point of $49.95 on contract. The device is the first Windows Phone from Nokia to land on the US shores but many are expecting it to be upstaged by whatever AT&T and Nokia have to show off at CES in the same week.

Hopefully we'll be able to pre-order this lil' guy soon as we're itching to get our hands on it ASAP.  Check our hands-on with the Lumia 710 after the break to get a quick tour.

Source: T-Mobile - Black, White; via WPCentral Forums (KingCrimson)

Dobroye utro to our Russian friends yearning for a Nokia Lumia 800.  We just got word Nokia Russia announced that starting on December 1st, you can pick up your very own Nokia Lumia 800. Only caveat is that you have to buy it directly from a Nokia store--at least for now. In two weeks, we'll see a more general and traditional rollout across the country.

Even better? The flagship Nokia store in Moscow is looking to hold a celebration for the event, including offering a 10% discount and other prizes for those who register (via Facebook) and show up (translated):

"In the flagship salon in Moscow for the occasion will be a festive event. The first half hour after the announcement of the start of sales at the counter will be Eric Bertman, vice president and general manager of Nokia in Eurasia, and Nikolai Pryanishnikov, president of Microsoft in Russia. Hurry up to buy Nokia Lumia 800 of the first-hand =) Discount for Nokia Lumia 800 is waiting for you on the day of start of sales! Reserve a place for 10% discount on the page of the event"

Sounds like a good time and a great way to get a Lumia not only early but discounted. Good luck to anyone who attends (drop us some photos if you're there).

Source: Nokia Russia (Facebook); Thanks, Andrey M., for the tip!

As we previously covered throughout the marketing campaign Nokia has thrown at us the past few weeks, the Lumia 800 is now available at retail stores (and for delivery through pre-ordering) in the UK and a handful of European countries. The handset, available in black, was greeted by queues of potential buyers outside retail stores across the UK.

The Lumia 800 is being carried by Orange, T-Mobile, Three and Vodafone (Phones4U & Carphonewarehouse, etc. too). O2 were in talks with Nokia to also stock the Windows Phone, but communications broke down with the companies not agreeing on strict criteria laid down by the manufacturer. After today, the next step in Nokia's plan for market domination is a free, public event in London on November 28th, which will see 4D projections being beamed onto the Millbank Tower with deadmau5 performing some numbers.

The above shot illustrates the service Nokia was running for those who were patiently awaiting their turn to get their hands on the new Windows Phone. Rightly so, the queues should be fairly large and sales should be relatively good, with the sheer scale of promotion Nokia has carried out being pretty massive. We had Nokia World, the introduction of the Arch in Stratford's Westfield shopping centre, and roof-hung display boards at Heathrow Airport being overtaken by the handset maker to name but a few.

2012 will prove to be an interesting year for the platform to say the least, but one thing is for sure - we're lucky to have Nokia dedicating all resources. Cyan and magenta choices will arrive later this month for the Lumia 800 (November 28th for magenta) and we expect (and hope) networks to begin pushing Windows Phone as well as Android and the iPhone in the near future.

Let us know in the comments if you went out to get one.

Image credit: Nokia, thanks TheWeeBearUK for the tip!

Even more good news for those emerging markets, Nokia Bangladesh has confirmed via Facebook that the Lumia 800 will be coming to that country in February 2012.

"Dear All the Nokia Fans: good news is that Nokia Lumia 800 will be available in Bangladesh starting from February,2012. Another good news is that this device will come with Windows Mango software not WP7.Lets wait for the device..Surely it will rock you.."

That's an interesting date because it's the first 2012 time-frame we've heard and could signal when Nokia plans to launch, in quantity, Nokia Windows Phones to the rest of the world--and yes we also mean the United States.

Fingers crossed.

Source: Facebook; Thanks, James A., for the tip!

We know Brazil is ready for Windows Phone, so it only makes sense that Colombia get some love too. And according to Jorge Silva Luján, Microsoft Colombia GM, Windows Phone is heading there in December. So was the news conveyed to by him over all things, Twitter, a few days ago.

"Windos Phone en Colombia. Diciembre!! Las personas son el centro,no los iconos ni las aplicaciones. Como tiene que ser. Listos?"

"Windows Phone: People at the center, not apps or icons. They way it should have always been. Colombia available in December. Are you ready?"

From later tweets, he reveals that the carriers Comcel and Movistar will be getting the devices and that both are involved in the approval process at this point. While it's not clear which phone or phones will be available, it looks like the Samsung Focus may be one of them.

Source: Twitter; Thanks, Elmo C., for the tip!

Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop confirmed today what was expected all along, the first Nokia Windows Phones will be coming very soon. It has been long suspected that the Finnish manufacturer would unveil the first of their WP7 devices at the Nokia World conference in London on October 26th, and at a Helsinki technology fair this morning, Elop spoke of introducing "products" in the current quarter. What's exciting here is his use of the plural form, denoting that we can expect at least a couple models this year. With Apple's new iPhone about to launch, Elop said, "Our belief is that there is a clear opportunity for an alternative ecosystem."

Elop compared the company's decision to abandon Symbian for Windows Phone to jumping off of a burning oil platform, which is pretty accurate. Nokia saw Symbian steadily losing ground and had to act, though moving to a completely new platform left them in a state of financial limbo with nothing to offer investors or consumers for eight months. With that stagnancy drawing to an end, we're close to seeing if the gamble paid off.

Source: Reuters; Via: PhoneScoop