New Windows Phones launch in Brazil, China

It has been a big week for Windows Phone launches outside the U.S.

Nokia launched the Lumia 710 and 800 in Brazil on March 21. It looks like Nokia spent some major marketing dollars on this one, blanketing a number of e-commerce sites and front pages with ads for the new devices. (The collage of Brazilian ads at right is courtesy of Microsoft MVP Rodolpho Carmo.)

China also saw the launch of another new Windows Phone from HTC this week. Codenamed "Eternity," that phone is an unlocked/"open market" handset with a 4.7-inch screen, front-and rear-facing cameras and a number of Chinese apps.

Microsoft Windows Phone execs there told Bloomberg they believe Windows Phones easily will surpass Apple's iPhone in market share there, thanks in part to Windows Phone's lower prices.  Android phones are the runaway best-selling smartphones in China, IDC said. China is on the verge of being the world's largest smartphone market as of this year, according to Bloomberg, citing IDC data.

Windows Phone is somewhere around the 70,000 app mark, as of this week.

So where's that expected Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T? On Windows Weekly this week, my co-host Paul Thurrott said he heard from a trusted source that the announcement of its availability will be made on Monday, March 26.

It's looking increasingly like April 8 might be the actual launch target -- somewhat later than Microsoft's expected March 18 target, Thurrott said. And that rumored price of $99 still sounds like it's on the money, Thurrott said on the show.

Update: Or maybe the launch date (retail) of the Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T will be April 9, as WPCentral suggests. In either case, it's getting closer...