Skip to main content

AT&T and Verizon may be testing LTE Nokia Lumia 800

Nokia Lumia 800 - Different angles
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If Nokia’s going to make a true comeback in the United States, it will need support from both AT&T and Verizon. Together, the wireless carrier’s account for about 200 million wireless subscribers in the US and soon they’ll be the only major carriers with LTE, the true next-generation high-speed network. It seems that Nokia knows this. Despite Windows Phone not yet supporting LTE, CNET reports that Nokia has 4G LTE-enabled Lumia 800 at both Verizon and AT&T for testing and approval. 

Recommended Videos

Carriers often test devices that never come to market, so the fact that Nokia Lumia 800s are in testing does not necessarily indicate a launch, but it does show that Nokia is taking the needs of the US market, and its domineering carriers, seriously. Compared to much of the world, wireless carriers in the US have a huge amount of control over the devices sold for their networks and the marketing surrounding them. For proof of this, look no further than the debacle surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, chronicled here

Years back, AT&T and T-Mobile were Nokia’s best partners in the US, with an emphasis on AT&T. However, despite several attempts to market high-end Nokia phones with Symbian OS on them, no carrier seemed willing to fully leap on board. Verizon’s release lists have been especially cold to the Finnish handset maker. We cannot remember the last time Verizon gave Nokia the time of day, though the carrier has released some gimmicky Nokia feature phones in the past. Things may be looking up. T-Mobile, which took a chance on Nokia earlier this year with the C7, will be launching one of the manufacturer’s new Windows Phones soon. Nokia and T-Mobile have an event planned tomorrow (Wednesday) to launch a Nokia phone, which we suspect is the Lumia 710.

Nokia still has its work cut out. According to CNET, neither carrier considers the Lumia 800 a flagship device, meaning they won’t put much marketing or retail muscle behind it, should it launch. This is a problem. Nokia needs a device that will attract strong interest from the carriers so that it, and Windows Phone, can get a strong push. Nokia has put all its eggs into Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. If it is to make a comeback here in the US, it’s going to need to sell the struggling platform to users. 

We also didn’t make a big point of it, but this is a good sign that Microsoft will introduce LTE support for Windows Phone very soon, perhaps at CES in January. 

Jeffrey Van Camp
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Nothing Phone 3 is the firm’s biggest swing at Apple and Samsung yet
Is this the shot-in-the-arm the smartphone market desperately needs?
A person holding the Nothing Phone 2, with the lights active.

The Nothing Phone 3 will officially be available in the US, as the company looks to take on the likes of the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 with a handset Nothing founder and CEO, Carl Pei, calls its "first true flagship smartphone".

Those looking for an alternative smartphone option this year will be able to pick up the Phone 3 from Amazon and Nothing's own website, reports TechCrunch.

Read more
This one iPadOS 26 feature has me excited for the iPhone Fold
Semi-open state of a foldable iPhone concept

Samsung is set to launch the seventh generation of its Galaxy Z Fold book-style folding phone this Summer, but its biggest rival is yet to show its folding phone hand. Apple has long been expected to unveil an iPhone Fold, and the latest rumors suggest that it will launch next year.

I’ve used almost every folding phone released globally, with some exceptions for extremely obscure ones. While I've always been curious what an iPhone Fold would look like, I was fairly certain that Apple shouldn't build it, as I wasn’t sure they could deliver on one necessary feature.

Read more
These are the 4 best alternatives to the Google Pixel 9a
A person taking the Google Pixel 9a out of a pocket.

The best cheap phone race has been reignited by the Google Pixel 9a, which brings the Google Pixel 9 series experience at a significantly lower price. Starting at $449, Google’s latest Pixel offers the flagship processor of its siblings for flagship-level performance, an excellent camera, and long-term software support.

Yet, Google’s software experience won’t be for everyone; there are obvious tradeoffs in the specs sheet to enable the low price; the camera bar design is somewhat polarizing for long-term fans, and there’s no telephoto camera. 

Read more