Telecom NZ marks turf with Windows Phone 8 launch

Telecom NZ's Windows Phone 8 launch at the company's Auckland headquarters was a large scale event by New Zealand standards.

Almost 50 people were packed into Telecom’s presentation room. There were journalists, bloggers, a film crew and representatives from at least five companies as well as at least a dozen Telecom employees. I counted at least a dozen Windows 8 devices – not all of them were phones.

There were devices on show in the presentation room and then more out in the main atrium area where three display stands showing Windows 8 devices at home, at work and at play.

There were even remote control cars being driven around the building's atrium controlled by phones.

Consistent Windows 8 on every device

Clearly the intention was to show Windows 8’s consistency across desktops, laptops, tablets and phones. This point was underlined by Telecom chief executive retail Chris Quin and Microsoft New Zealand managing director Paul Muckleston during their presentations.

The event was by far the largest technology product announcement seen in Auckland in the last seven or eight years. And that goes to underline Telecom’s determination to carve out the Windows Phone 8 territory ahead of its rivals. The company clearly wants to own the space.

Telecom plans to begin selling Windows 8 phones later this week. On show at the event were models from Nokia, Samsung and HTC. All were impressive devices. The first phone to hit the streets will be Nokia’s excellent $999 Lumia 920.

Real interest

A Nokia representative told me there’s a real interest in this phone, far more than with the company’s earlier Windows Phone products and the initial quantities previously shipped to Telstra in Australia sold out immediately.

Vodafone says it expects to offer its own Windows Phone 8 devices before Christmas.