Although it was fully expected after all the rumors in recent weeks, it’s still disappointing to hear that Nokia won’t be launching its new Windows Phones in the United States until 2012. On stage at Nokia World, CEO Stephen Elop promised that Nokia would “introduce a portfolio of products into the US in early 2012 and into mainland China in the first half of 2012.” Careful (and paranoid) readers may note that the statement isn’t a promise to deliver the just-announced Nokia Lumia 800 to the US, but we don’t think its time to sound any alarm bells there yet.
Nokia’s new Windows Phones not coming to US until ‘early 2012,’ but LTE and CDMA promised
is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.
Elop also mentioned that Nokia fully intends to create both LTE and CDMA phones “to address specific local market requirements.” That ties in nicely with the idea that Nokia will deliver a full “portfolio” to the US and it’s the first sign we’ve had in a long time that the company might finally be repairing its damaged relationships with US carriers. Of course, it would have been a better sign if Nokia were actually shipping to the US at the same time as Europe and Asia, but it’s no surprise given how long it’s been since Nokia has had a smartphone presence in the US.
Wherever you call home, don’t forget to check out our hands-on with the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710.
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