CES 2012: Nokia to unveil Lumia 900 Windows Phone

Nokia will begin its bid to crack the US market with the launch of a new flagship Windows Phone, likely to be called the Lumia 900, at CES in Las Vegas next week.

The new device is likely to be similar to the current top model, the Lumia 800, but will feature a larger screen, at 4.3” rather than 3.7”.

Nokia is hoping to build on the positive critical reaction that the Lumia 800 garnered when it was launched in London at the end of last year. Sources at retailers, however, say that while sales have risen, Nokia’s marketing blitz, based around the slogan “The amazing everyday”, has not provided the hoped for gear change.

Microsoft's new Windows Phone platform uses an interface built on 'tiles' which both link to applications and display some information themselves. It is aimed in large part at users who are upgrading to a smartphone for the first time.

The US market, in particular, is vital to the success both of Windows Phone as a platform and to the resurgence of the Finnish handset manufacturer. The company's press conference at the CES 2012electronics show in Las Vegas will also launch a US marketing push. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop referred to the Lumia 800 as "the first real Windows Phone", but it has not been launched in America.

The new Lumia 900 is likely to be marketed by AT&T in America as the Nokia Ace, although it is currently using the codename Eloko, according to Pocketnow.com. BGR.com reported late last year that “The handset will reportedly feature a 1.4GHz processor, a 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display and an 8-megapixel camera, and it will ship with Windows Phone “Tango.” It now, however, appears that the phone will, initially at least, use the current ‘Mango’ build of Windows Phone.