Windows Phone 8 Release: Lumia 920 Exclusive To AT&T For 6 Months Says Employee Training Tutorial [VIDEO]

AT&T already announced that Nokia’s Lumia 920 would be exclusive to its network, but the carrier may soon reveal how long this deal will last. According to WPCentral, the upcoming Windows Phone 8 handset will be available only for AT&T subscribers for at least six months following its release.

"The other tidbit we learned was that AT&T has a six-month exclusive on the Lumia 920—so any hope of another carrier getting it should be dashed," the company said on Wednesday. "But as we’ve seen from Nokia, their strategy is to deliver specially configured devices for carrier partners. So while the Lumia 920 is exclusive to AT&T, the Nokia Lumia 9xx is not and should give hope to those on other carriers."

This indicates that other network providers, such as Verizon and T-Mobile, will not get the smartphone until May at the earliest.

“Exclusive to our customers and featuring unique innovations in imagining technology, wireless charging, and a bright, sensitive display—all on the nation’s largest 4G network—the Lumia 920 will be one of the hottest phones for the holidays,” Jeff Bradley, senior VP of Devices and Developer Services for AT&T, said in early October.

The Windows Phone news blog also reported that AT&T representatives are undergoing training with the device, such as familiarizing employees with its selling points and main features. Three videos from these alleged training sessions have also been posted online, each one focusing on a different aspect of the Windows Phone 8 device.

The first launch video describes the Nokia Lumia 920 as “super intuitive” and highlights the handset’s tech specs. The leaked training videos further confirmed that the handset will be exclusive to AT&T for six months. The second video focuses specifically on wireless charging capabilities and demonstrates various accessories that are compatible with this feature. For example, the demo footage shows a Windows Phone 8 device being charged via the charging plate, the charging stand, or the JBL power-up wireless charging speaker.

The final video details Nokia’s City Lens augmented reality app, which lets owners use the camera viewfinder on the phone to learn more about locations. The Lumia’s Near Field Communication Tap and Send ability was also showcased, which is similar to the Bump app available on iOS and Android. This means users can share data by simply touching the back of their phone to the back of another compatible device.

In addition to the features mentioned above, the Windows Phone 8 gadget will come with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon dual core processor, a 4.5-inch display, and an 8-megapixel camera.

Release Date Info: What Know So Far

Although the Lumia 920 handset was officially unveiled in early September, a specific release date has yet to be announced. Rumors have said that the Windows Phone 8 handset is likely to launch in early November, but the latest speculation points to a sooner announcement.

“AT&T is gearing up to launch the Nokia Lumia 920 very soon—in fact we expect an announcement on pricing and availability sometime on Sunday,” wrote Daniel Rubino of the WPCentral.

The Windows Phone-themed site didn’t specify where the information came from, but referred to their source as “one of our AT&T ninjas.”

Following the Lumia 920’s September unveiling, it was reported that AT&T subscribers could get the device as early as Nov. 2. Back then, sources familiar with Nokia’s plans said the company was working with Microsoft and AT&T to undergo numerous tests required to approve the Windows Phone 8 handset by that date.

The Lumia 920, along with other highly anticipated Windows Phone 8 devices like HTC’s Windows Phone 8X, could be exactly what Microsoft needs to make a comeback in the mobile industry. The last Windows-branded phone called the KIN launched in 2010 and flopped so badly that Microsoft was forced to discontinue it only 48 days after its release.

Windows users around the world will learn more about the Redmond, Wash.-based company’s next line of mobile devices on Oct. 29 at the company’s “Meet Windows Phone 8” press event.

Check out the videos below to see the alleged AT&T training tutorials.