For the most part, with the exception of the forgettable HTC Trophy, Verizon Wireless decided to pass on Windows Phone 7 for the past two years. Now, with the launch of Windows Phone 8 upon us, Big Red has jumped head first into the now polished mobile OS with the announcement of the Nokia Lumia 822. The new smartphone, which is essentially a slightly improved CDMA version of the Nokia Lumia 820, will go on sale in the U.S. this fall in black, white and grey color options for just $100 with new two-year agreement.
“Bringing the Nokia Lumia 822 to Verizon Wireless allows us to expand our award winning Lumia brand to even more customers here in the United States,” said Olivier Puech, President of Nokia Americas. “With the Nokia Lumia 822, first-time smartphone buyers – and those ready to switch – will get high-quality performance on both their device and Verizon Wireless’ incredibly fast 4G LTE network.”
As for specs, the Lumia 822 features a 4.3-inch AMOLED WVGA (800×480) ClearBlack display with super sensitive touch for nail & glove use, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), an 8 megapixel rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash, a 1.2 megapixel HD front-facing camera, NFC support, 4G LTE connectivity, and an 1800 mAh battery. The device backing can be swapped out for protective shells of varying colors, some of which have a wireless charging capability. For those keeping score, it’s also 11.2mm thick and weighs 142 grams. Software enhancements include Nokia Drive+, Nokia City Lens, Nokia Maps and Nokia Music. Check out a promotional video and some press images below.