Microsoft and Nokia held a joint press conference earlier this month to unveil two new Windows Phone 8 devices, but until Thursday the price and release date had remained a mystery. Nokia’s Russian division began accepting pre-orders for the Lumia 920 and 820, labeling the smartphones with a Q4 2012 launch window.

The Lumia 920, which is the higher end Windows Phone 8 comparable to the iPhone 4S, will be priced at 24,990 rubles, or $801 according to The Verge. The Lumia 820 will cost 19,990 rubles, which translates to about $640.

Nokia Germany and Nokia Italy have also announced their pricing for the Windows Phone 8 devices and have slated the phones for a November release. Nokia Germany will be pricing the Lumia 920 at 649 euros, or $836, and the Lumia 820 at 499 euros ($643). This is slightly higher than the price Russia is offering for Nokia’s flagship smartphone.

Italy, however, will be offering a lower price for Nokia’s spec-bumped smartphone. The higher-end 920 will cost 599 euros ($771), but there has been no word on the 820’s cost. Nokia Italy did say that both phones will be released in November.

Users in Russia can begin ordering both Windows Phone 8 devices today, and have the choice of yellow, red, white or black for the 920. The 820 can only be ordered in red, white and black.

Nokia told The Verge there will be no pre-order or pricing announcements for the UK variant of these devices on Thursday.

Smartphone manufacturers seem to be preparing their products for the holiday season, as Samsung announced some global release dates for its Galaxy Note 2 on Wednesday. The “phablet” device launched in South Korea yesterday, and is expected to roll out in Italy and possibly India on Friday. The UK release date for Samsung’s Note sequel was also announced, and the device is slated to hit UK shelves on Oct. 1.

The launch information revealed Thursday adds some credibility to previous rumors, which said the Windows Phone 8 gadgets will launch in November. In the first week of September, sources familiar with Nokia’s plans indicated that the Lumia 920 would be available for AT&T subscribers beginning Nov. 2. Reuters also reported a November release for the European variants of these Windows 8 devices earlier this month.

Nokia’s Lumia 920 will feature some significant upgrades from its predecessor, the Lumia 900, such as a 1.5GHz processor, a larger 4.5-inch display and the brand new Windows Phone 8 operating system. Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, Windows 8, will be released at the end of October just before Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 devices will hit Germany, Russia and Italy.

The Redmond, Wash.-based company will be holding a press conference the day before the Windows 8 release date to introduce the new software. Microsoft has yet to reveal any pricing information concerning its Surface tablet, but some expect this announcement to come at the Oct. 25 event.

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