For those looking for a low cost, powerful smartphone, AT&T is offering Nokia’s Lumia 900 for just $49.99 on a 2-year contract. Why the price drop? With Motorola moving in to offer the latest premium smartphone experience underneath the Galaxy S3, the Atrix HD is now occupying the $99 price point ousting the 900’s previous position.
This is more than just a new deal for the Nokia Lumia 900. Nokia havs been heavily promoting the Lumia brand and the 900 in particular as the company’s new flag bearer for Windows Phone and its current 2012 handset lineup Stateside. Although the company has boasted fast adoption of Windows Phone, having its price slashed in half, only three months doesn’t reflect the positivity demonstrated by Nokia and Microsoft.
It might not be lacklustre sales of the Lumia 900 which are responsible for the price cut however, as recent developments in the evolution of Windows Phone have left a shadow over the future of the current build of Microsoft’s mobile OS.
Although app developers shouldn’t have to work hard to upgrade their apps from Windows Phone 7 compatibility to Windows Phone 8, consumers invested in Windows Phone 7 handsets won’t be so lucky. When Windows Phone 8 hits later this year, those on the current iteration; Windows Phone 7 or 7.5, will remain locked to that iteration of the OS, or rather they will receive an interim upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8 offering limited functionality ported backwards from Windows Phone 8.
This lack of upgradability not only stings current Windows Phone users, but taints potential sales of the current Windows Phone stock across the globe. Consumers unawares of the impending upgrade will no doubt by the primary customers continuing to pick up the likes of the Nokia Lumia 900, but in truth, its days on store shelves are numbered.
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