Nokia’s (NOK) Lumia line of smartphones is now seeing post-holiday discounts at a variety of retailers shortly after launching in the United States. The phones, which run Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Phone 8 operating system, are the company’s latest gamble after a string of launches that were not well received. Verizon’s (VZ) Lumia 822 can now be had for free with a new two-year agreement, as can T-Mobile’s Lumia 810, while Amazon (AMZN) is offering the flagship Lumia 920 for $39 on AT&T (T).
It is unclear if the carriers are footing the entire financial burden, or if Nokia has provided some support. A Nokia spokesperson said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal that “pricing is always a carrier decision, but holiday season promotions are fairly standard at this time of year,” adding that even some Samsung (005930) phones are being offered for free.
While executives have claimed the Lumia line of smartphones are off to a good start, Nokia has not yet released sales figures and the latest discounts may not bode well for the company’s upcoming earnings report.
