Nokia Icon is here! Verizon/Microsoft, spread the word!

[penterax]

As most of you probably know, the Icon is available for pre-order at a Microsoft store, and is planned to be released on Feb 20. If you pre-order by the 16th you get a wireless charging station for free. Glad I waited instead of going ahead and picking up a 1520 on ATT!

Got my pre-order in yesterday; I'm excited!

My main reason for posting this is to put a bug in Verizon's ear. This phone should be sent to every hardware review site that comes to mind, not just a few places that may be obvious to marketing but not to those of us that are computer hardware enthusiasts. I hope this has been done already - but if not, sites like Anandtech.com, Tomshardware, The Tech Report, and PC Perspective are sites that are regularly followed by a lot of Windows users and enthusiasts that will promote this phone if they know it is top-end hardware. Enthusiasts help drive sales because they tell everyone around them what they think is best, tending to be the "expert" in a family or group of friends that is relied on for advice. Those people may not buy the most expensive hardware, but if they know the person the trust most prefers a Windows phone, they are much more likely to go Windows.

It needs to be done ASAP, because the new Android phones built with the latest Snapdragon SoC will be available in a few months; they will likely overshadow the latest Windows phone. The Icon is comparable to any smart phone currently for sale and everyone needs to know that (in order to remove the idea that Windows phones are made with dated hardware). A lot of the people that post on the sites I've reviewed bemoan the fact that the top phones aren't available on Verizon, so that word needs to get out there as well.

Speaking of latest phones - I seriously hope Microsoft/Nokia get the next gen out at the same time as the new Android offerings. Even though it would mean my hardware (my Icon) is technically "out of date" in a few months, I think it would be great for business. (The Icon is good enough to last for years of service in a technical sense anyway.) Of course Verizon is the best carrier in the U.S. to release new hardware on, and I hope Verizon continues to develop a strong relationship with MS.

[AtomicInternet]

Rumor is the 4+ month delay from first hearing about the Icon to launch was to organize a marketing push between Nokiasoft and Verizon.  Since the 928 was essentially thrown out and forgotten, anything they do at this point to push the Icon will knock me off my seat.

[jsh17001]

I am curious where you got the information about the free wireless charger when you pre-order from the Microsoft store. I ordered this phone at my local MS Store on day one (2/12), there was no mention made of a free wireless charger in store, nor have I seen anything on the MS Store website that indicates such.

[penterax]

It was on the Microsoft store page. I verified that I would get a free wireless charger at the store (the clerk looked it up to be sure). I don't see it on the page now, but if the deal ended on the 16th that would make sense. But, yeah, they didn't say a word about it until I asked. I make sure to mention special deals because store personnel are often ill informed.

I would call your store and verify that you will get a free wireless charger. The guy at my store said there are 2 types and they only carried the stand-up model, which I don't have a problem with. The other one lays flat of course.

[SickFreak]

I just went out to the VZW site and it is not showing up to even pre-order.  Of course, I wasn't going to get it anyway, but I thought I'd point it out.  They only show the 928, Odyssey, 8X and a couple of pre-owned devices.

Of course, I still want a large WP with a slideout keyboard.  I suspect that'll never happen, but that's what I want.

[penterax]

It is only listed on the Windows phone and Microsoft Store sites -

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/phones/nokia-lumia-icon?model=rm-927

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Nokia-Lumia-Icon-for-Verizon/productID.295621200

I imagine Verizon won't list it until the 20th, as that is the official release date.

[freeridephilly]

Are you able to keep you unlimited data plan if you purchase the Nokia Icon from Microsoft store? Thanks.

[AtomicInternet]

I was told as long as you don't purchase a new device using your subsidy (discounted device) the unlimited will remain.  You definitely want to confirm that with Verizon first of course

[SickFreak]

I talked with a VZW store manager several months ago and she said that there is a plan to dump all of us with unlimited data plans and force us onto their current plans, but she didn't have any solid information as to when it was going to happen.

I guess if that happens, then there's really no reason to stay with VZW.  But knowing my luck, they'll do that a month after I pay full price for a new device.

[SOliver]

I dunno. I don't see it. All it merited today was one tiny section on the rotator ad on the front page and that's it. They're just not interested and aren't going to push it at all.

[SOliver]

I wouldn't my breath on this one. I've descended into conspiracy territory now because of Verizon's apparent animus towards Microsoft products. It borders on the incredible how they seem to care so little about Windows Phones but for whatever reason, still bother to sell them.

[Kohld]

Hate to tell you, but your Icon is last year's tech. So there is no need for Verizon to release new hardware to make it "out of date".

[penterax]

I'm not sure what the point of posting uninformed negativity in this thread is. No one cares whether Android phones were released with the hardware the Icon has in it last year; that has no effect on the quality of the phone, or the fact that it is just as good as any flagship Android device - or iPhone, for that matter - that you can buy today. Will it be technically out of date in as little as a few days? Yes, new phones, including new Windows phones, are expected to be announced based on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 at the MWC, and those phones will likely be released in the second quarter of this year (by the end of June). If you want the latest hardware that will come out this year, I recommend waiting at least until the next Windows phone release, the Icon is guaranteed to be surpassed in terms of hardware later this year - and maybe not that much later.

However. it would be no surprise to see the phones announced at MWC surpassed by the end of 2014.

If, like me, the Icon is the first phone that really fits what you want in a smart phone then there is certainly nothing wrong with buying one now. I've done as much of the waiting game for new hardware as I care to do. I build my own computers, and I've waited for new graphics cards, new processors, new mainboards, new OSes, and the fact is your hardware is going to be out of date in less than a year no matter what you buy, in many if not most cases. This is especially true in smart phones, which is still in the stage that development of hardware is coming so fast your phone is going to be "out of date" in 6 months. This is as true of any Android or iPhone as it is of a Windows phone! Picking on the Icon for having "last year's technology" is ludicrous; all of the top phones available today are based on "last year's technology".

I suspect that most if not all of these "last year's tech" kinds of posts are made by people that, to put it politely, prefer other platforms and really don't want to see the WP grow in market share.

The best defense against this kind of attack is to stay informed; know what hardware is available now, and know what hardware is coming down the road. Particularly for the latter, I recommend Anandtech.com. Their WP coverage isn't strong (which is a problem more related to Microsoft than Anandtech), but you will learn enough real information (meaning NOT rumor) to stay ahead of the game.

[SickFreak]

Which is pretty much what the VZW rep at my local VZW store told me a couple of days ago.  She told me that when it comes to Microsoft phones, they won't put anything on their network until it's been proven a good seller on their competitors first.  (This means that VZW won't allow a new Windows Phone.)  And since the Icon is basically a smaller version of the 1520....

[Hoppman]

I tried to view one at the local Verizon store, they didn't have one out that I could view.  I was told it would be 20 minute wait so I put my name on the list and 45 minutes later, still no customer service.  I left, asked when they would have the icon on display and was told tomorrow.  What was interesting is that there wasn't a single Microsoft or Nokia piece of advertising in the store.  All the Windows phones were on a display under a sign that said Droid.

I wanted to touch the phone so that I could see which one had better grip and then most likely make a purchase, but no money for Verizon today.  The Verizon store near me is one of the worst places I have ever seend for actually trying to buy something.

[SickFreak]

I noticed the same thing too yesterday when I went to a VZW store - not a single sign about Microsoft technologies at all.  They had only 2 WP devices under a Moto X sign.

[primortal]

Let see how long it takes the to update the Windows Phone community to have a section for the Icon

[Ann154]

primortal wrote:

Let see how long it takes the Verizon Wireless Admin Verizon Admin to update the Windows Phone community to have a section for the Icon

Considering neither of those two usernames have logged in since 2011, I doubt they are the active admin for the community.

[Lastrick]

Just got my 929 FedEx. The local store ran out already so they did a special order for me. Got it in two days. Nice phone. Not too large and the screen quality is great. Now I have to look into updating to Windows 8.1. My old HTC 8X had it.

[primortal]

Windows Phone 8.1 won't be out till April the earliest.

929/Icon already has Windows Phone 8 Update 3 (GRD3) with Nokia Black installed.