Its first such handsets should arrive before 2011 is over

Sep 13, 2011 07:56 GMT  ·  By

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has delayed the release of its Windows Phone devices to 2012 in some countries around the world, some of the latest reports on the matter suggest.

Apparently, users in markets like Australia or Portugal will have to wait for the next year to begin before being able to get a taste of Nokia's new Windows Phones, the same as United States users would have to do.

Interestingly, Nokia's handsets are said to account for about 40 percent of all mobile phones in Portugal, and it comes as a surprise that the company would not launch Windows Phones there in 2011.

While the reasons that determined Nokia to take this decision have not been unveiled for the time being, it seems that the move was already confirmed for Australia.

In Australia, Nokia's first Windows Phones will arrive only in the first quarter of the next year, the company reportedly stated.

“We won’t be releasing a Nokia on Windows Phone until Q1 of next year. Can’t be more specific than that sorry,” Nokia's comment on the matter reads.

What remains to be seen is whether only Australia will be affected by the move, or other countries in the area as well. Chances are that Nokia will bring its Windows Phones to Asia only next year.

Undoubtedly, Nokia will unveil to the world their first handsets based on Microsoft's mobile platform before the end of this year, though specific info on the markets that will receive these phones has not been unveiled until now.

These devices will certainly enjoy limited availability in 2011, yet the fact that more and more countries are said to be receiving Nokia Windows Phones next year makes us wonder how limited their availability will be.

Of course, Nokia did say that they will kick off mass production of smartphones based on Windows Phone only in 2012, but they also promised the first such devices for the ongoing year, and they do need to make this launch right, so as to slow down the pace at which they are currently losing market share.

Nokia did not offer specific info on the markets that will receive its Windows Phones in 2011, but more should emerge as the handsets become official, so keep an eye on this space for more on the matter. (via)