Nokia Lumia 900 Bug: Credits, Exchanges from AT&T

Nokia's answer to Apple's iPhone has topped Amazon's online sales list, but AT&T retail stores haven't had the same momentum despite AT&T selling the phone for $100 with a two year contract, which is considerably less than its competitors. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus Android phone is priced at $299 and the iPhone 4S is at $199. While the phone carrier has put up large promotional displays for the new phone, the sales are much slower than anticipated. 

A team from CNET went into the store under the guise of a first-time smartphone shopper, but none of the sales associates in the six Manhattan stores they visted recommended the phone. Even when prompted and asked about the Lumia, the sales associates recommended the iPhone, which is the most popular phone in the U.S. 

Winning the point of sale is critical to the success of the Lumia 900, Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst at IDC told CNET. That's where the salesperson can educate potential customers about what Windows Phone can do. It's where they explain why it's different from the competition.

The cheaper price tag on the phone could be an effective marketing strategy that will attract people to the Windows Phone operating system, which never really took off. As of January 2012, the operating system held under two percent market share worldwide.

The Nokia Lumia 900 hopes to change these statistics, but it hasn't got off to a good start despite boasting a unique bold design, with sharp edges and a rounded back.

The phone comes with a 4.3 inch amoled touchscreen, a Carl Zeiss Optics 8MP camera with dual led flash, auto focus, video calling and a battery life with up to 7 hours talk time. It's fully fleshed out with Internet browsing and social media integration including, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email and chat.

The biggest shortcoming for the phone's operating system seems to be the lack of apps. WP7 comes with 70,000 apps, which is feeble when compared with half-a-million apps boasted by Android.

Nokia and Microsoft have recently invested 18 million euros to a mobile application development program at Aalto University.Kicking off in May 2012, the Finland-based program will be led and managed by Aalto University, which has a growing reputation as a hotbed of new startup companies. AppCampus is intended to attract thousands of application proposals from students and entrepreneurs from all over the world. Aalto University will make a significant contribution to the project by providing premises, coaching services, and access to both academic and business networks for budding app developers, Microsoft wrote in a news release.