Nokia bringing Lumia range to NZ - Updated

Nokia has announced it will be bringing its Lumia range of Windows-based smartphones to our shores next month, in its 'return to the New Zealand smartphone market'.

The Lumia 800 (left) will be carried by Telecom in black and cyan, and by Vodafone in black only. Telecom will also sell the entry-level Lumia 710 (right), again in black only.

Nokia New Zealand managing director Chris Carr says the Lumia will change the way people think about Nokia.

"It signifies a new beginning for the company, bringing together the very best of Nokia's handset design and services with the latest Windows Phone software.

Telecom has already started the ball rolling on pre-purchase deals, giving customers who order a Lumia before February 22 a promo code offering $100 off the price of the handset. The promo code will also give the first 130 people to purchase their device online and on a 24-month plan a chance to win prizes including an Xbox 360.

Nokia has sold 1 million Windows phones, with the Microsoft partnership expected to either make or break the ailing company.

Update: Telecom has confirmed that it will sell the Lumia 710 for $549 and the Lumia 800 for $899.

Deals for customers buying the devices on contracts won't be announced until closer to the launch, although a Telecom representative says buyers can take some guidance from the discounts offered on similar devices.