Nokia acknowledges Lumia 900 issue, plans software update and $100 discount

Nokia has confirmed an memory management issue that is affecting some Lumia 900 devices and is preparing a software update to fix it. All customers and future customers will receive a $100 discount to cover any possible issues, making the phone free to buy for the next 10 days.

The glitch is said to have left a number of owners of the Windows Phone-based device unable to connect to the Web, according to AllThingsD. As it is related to software, and not hardware, the issue can be fixed by an over-the-air update, which will be available from April 16. Affected customer can also switch their device to a new, unaffected one by visiting an AT&T store.

Software update coming soon to Nokia Lumia 900 addressing memory management.Customers receive automatic $100 credit. ow.ly/ackhM

— Nokia US (@NokiaUS) April 11, 2012

“We’re already manufacturing devices with the new software,” Nokia Inc. President Chris Weber told AllthingsD. “Those are being shipped to AT&T stores.”

The credit is being offer to those who buy a device before April 21 and, given that the cost of the phone is only $100, it essentially means that the phone will be free until then. That discount cleverly turns the tables on the problem, giving consumers more reason to consider a Lumia 900 despite the problem.

“The customer always comes first, and I think we’re showing it here,” Weber said.

Nokia’s addition expense for offering the phone for free comes less than a week after it was revealed that the budget for the US advertising campaign with AT&T is a massive $150 million.

Though the company deserves credit for acknowledging the issue and acting fast to fix and compensate those affected, the issue is somewhat of an embarrassment given the noise it had made around the Windows Phone-based device.

The beginning of the month saw the Finnish firm roll out an campaign that trashed its competitors by drawing attention to their faults, branding other smartphones as ‘beta test phones‘ that are not complete or reliable on release.

Issuing a software update and $100 off discount is something that would arguably fall under beta, we think, but Nokia deserves credit for its response.