Microsoft has partnered with AT&T to sell in the US its new Lumia phones. AT&T said this week that it would provide the Lumia 950 model, but has not stated anything about the pricier Lumia 950 XL. Other major US mobile carriers, like T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Sprint, do not have yet any intention to offer either the 950 XL or even the 950 version, according to individuals acquainted with these carriers’ programs.
Lumia 950 and its bigger sibling, the Lumia 950 XL, are the first top Windows-powered smart phones in almost two years, as well as the initial high-end smart phones under the Microsoft brand. The software giant bought Nokia’s device branch in 2014, after the Finnish manufacturer suffered huge financial losses due to a fierce competition on the mobile gadget market. These phones represent Microsoft’s most recent attempt to maintain its operating system on a top position in this ever-growing world.
A release on several US mobile providers would have given broader offers and the possibility to present the Lumia smart phones to a larger number of users. Instead, this from Microsoft will focus their initiatives on this initial collaboration with AT&T.
Microsoft said earlier this week that its contract with AT&T is not an exclusive deal, offering a chance to other American mobile carriers to distribute at least one of its two flagship phones. The organization also stated that it has been negotiating with all other service providers in the United States, but none of these discussions is definitive.
The software producer plans to collaborate with AT&T in order to develop “connected table” shows inside the service provider’s shops. These internal presentations will demonstrate how the newest Lumia phones can be paired with Windows-powered computers and tablets. The company’s officials declared that, by partnering with this major mobile carrier, they are concentrating their efforts on the places where Microsoft might have an advantage. The winning edge over its competitors, mainly Apple and Google, could help bring the Nokia smart phones back into the high-end niche.
In North America, all previous Lumia mobile phones have usually been released on a single service provider and have been linked to a single contract. But in recent years, many phone manufacturers, such as Apple, LG, Samsung and HTC, have decided to provide their mobile phones across several US mobile services. Microsoft will also sell its Lumia 950 and 950 XL models as unlocked smart phones that could run on T-Mobile and AT&T.
Image source: Blognotes.eu
