Microsoft last desperate chance to sell phones‏

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57405796-94/at-t-promises-biggest-launch-ever-for-lumia-900/

If you can’t sell the phone then sell the marketing.

AT&T and Nokia are bringing out the big guns when they launch the Lumia 900 next month.
"At all levels, this is a notch above anything we've ever done," AT&T device head Jeff Bradley said in an interview with CNET, noting that includes the launch of the iPhone.

The device represents the best -- and some would argue last -- chance for Nokia and the Windows Phone platform to have a breakout hit, something both have struggled to do in the past.

For consumers, the blitzkrieg will begin right around when the phone launches on April 8. AT&T and Nokia are readying a massive television marketing campaign to raise consumer awareness.

The Lumia 900 will be the centerpiece at AT&T stores, with massive signs and posters promoting the device. Nokia and AT&T spent considerable time training store reps, and a majority of them will be carrying one with them at all times.

"Before you walk in to the store, you know this is our hero phone," Bradley said, referring to the Lumia 900's flagship status.

AT&T and Nokia believe they can succeed with the Lumia 900 where other companies have failed with older Windows Phone devices

The $99.99 price makes it the most affordable flagship phone AT&T has ever offered. Bradley and Weber declined to comment on how much of a subsidy was placed on the device, but Weber noted that Nokia was under a mandate to supply a quality phone at a lower price. He would only say Nokia was being aggressive with the price accordance to its strong push to get into the U.S.
Still, both executives note that the companies can't buy their way to success, and are hoping the different user interface -- which rely on live tiles and a look that's dramatically different than iOS or Android -- will draw in new and existing smartphone customers.