Nokia's been pretty quiet about U.S. availability of its Windows Phone-based products thus far, saying only that some devices will be available next year but not going into details of precisely which handsets will be released Stateside. We've heard that the Lumia 710 may be destined for T-Mobile's shelves in early 2012, and today a new rumor has suggested that AT&T may be working with Nokia to launch an LTE-enabled handset. According to sources speaking with The Verge, Nokia is teaming up with AT&T on an LTE Lumia 800. The tipsters went on to say that part of the reason for the delay of the launch of Nokia Windows Phones in the U.S. is because the Finnish firm would like to release at least some LTE-capable hardware right out of the gate. Windows Phone 7.5 Mango as we know it doesn't support LTE, but Microsoft has said that it will be included in an incremental update to the OS.
It's good to hear that Nokia may be planning to bring the Lumia 800 to the U.S. in any form, but if the device ends up coming to market with LTE compatibility, well, that'd be pretty cool. There's been no word on whether or not Verizon — which also has an LTE network — will be getting an LTE Nokia Windows Phone as well, but considering that Nokia has said that the U.S. is an important market for both it and Microsoft, it wouldn't be a shock to see such a handset released. So what do you all think? Would any of you be interested in buying an LTE-capable Lumia 800?
UPDATE: A report from WinRumors claims that Nokia is planning to take the wraps off of its U.S.-bound Windows Phones (including this AT&T Lumia) at CES in January. The site's sources claim that AT&T is expected to be the main launch partner for Nokia Windows Phones in the U.S., which wouldn't be a shock considering that AT&T is the carrier that's seemingly been the most supportive of the OS since its launch, but that Nokia is in talks to bring its Windows Phone devices to other U.S. operators.
