Nokia Windows phone UK launch date

Nokia ay have distracted us a little with its attractive and innovative new MeeGo handset, the N9, but smartphone fans know that something much bigger from the big N is just around the corner. We now have a good idea when the first Nokia Windows Phone handset will be revealed. Read on for more info.


While the first Windows Phone-powered Nokia smartphone isn’t set to ship in volume until 2012, CEO Stephen Elop – the man who made the bold move of cutting Symbian and (eventually) MeeGo adrift – confirmed on Tuesday that he has “increased confidence that we will launch our first device based on the Windows platform later this year.”

A late 2011 reveal has been on the card for some time, but it’s encouraging to hear fresh confirmation straight from the horse’s mouth. It gets even better though – we now have a good idea of exactly when we’re likely to see an official unveiling, and it’s going to happen right here in the UK.

London calling

No sooner had the Nokia Connection event in Singapore been wound up, then Nokia was Tweeting about the next major event: “See you at #NokiaWorld in London October 26-27!” read the message.

Lo and behold, a dedicated Nokia World 2011 page has since popped up, confirming that the next major Nokia event will indeed be taking place on those dates. The agenda is understandably vague (09:00 – opening keynote, 10:30 – Explore the Experience Lounge, and so on), but we can look at past form to see how Nokia likes to play these things.

Nokia World is traditionally the venue for major handset reveals. Last year saw the unveiling of the company’s last swing at Symbian success, the Nokia N8, and it’s certainly telling that the unveiling of the N8‘s direct follow-up – the N9 – has been brought forward to June. It smacks of Nokia clearing the way for a big Windows Phone reveal in the traditional headlining slot.

Home for Christmas?

Indeed, if you examine Stephen Elop’s language a little closer – his intention to “launch” the first Windows Phone device this year, and to “ship our product in volume in 2012” – it suggests that certain key markets could see the first Nokia Windows Phone hitting shelves for Chirstmas.

We don’t even have to guess which markets these would be, either. According to Dutch website All About Phones, Nokia intends to ship its first Windows Phone device in six major European countries first of all: France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

So not only is the UK likely to be the venue for the big Nokia Windows Phone reveal, it could also play host to first batch of units shortly after. Will you be signing up for one?


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