While Nokia's Lumia lineup was generally well-received and praised, especially the Nokia Lumia 900, a major drawback loomed and cast a shadow upon everything. Apps are an essential part for every smartphone, and the biggest drawback with Nokia's Lumia lineup has been the lack of sufficiently available apps on the Windows Phone platform - roughly 80,000 (compared to Apple App Store's 500,000 and Google Play's 450,000).

High-Profile Apps

In an effort to address this issue, Nokia announced at CTIA Wireless 2012 that several high-profile apps will make their way into Microsoft's mobile operating system, and Lumia devices will initially enjoy exclusive access to some of these apps. "We are focused on delivering great, locally revamped apps, and importantly, those which offer unique, exclusive and original experiences," said Marco Argenti, Senior Vice President at Nokia Developer Experience, as cited by Reuters. "With Nokia Lumia smartphones now available in 48 markets, developers are rapidly recognizing the business opportunities and creating their best work for our consumers."

The PGA Tour app, for instance, will be exclusive to Lumia for one year. Meanwhile, the ESPN app will be on the Lumia until May 2013. Other apps such as the AOL Entertainment Hub and the augmented-reality enhanced Groupon app will be available exclusively on the Lumia for six months. Driving app Tripdots will be available only on the Lumia for three months.

Other high-profile apps that will be available to all Windows Phone devices include PayPal, cloud provider Box, Time Magazine, and gaming hits from EA and Rovio, the creator of the highly-popular Angry Birds. Moreover, according to Nokia, Rovio is even putting together a design and development team dedicated to creating games for Nokia Lumia smartphones, as well as the broader Windows Phone ecosystem. This means that Windows Phone owners will be able to enjoy Angry Birds releases at the same time as iOS and Android customers. Upcoming EA gaming titles include NBA Jam, FIFA, Madden NFL, Yahtzee, Mirror's Edge, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR.

'Strategic Importance'

"Nokia is one of our longest-standing partners, and Windows Phone and Lumia are of strategic importance to Rovio," stated Rovio CEO Mikael Hed, as cited by PC Magazine. "We are very committed to bring our games to Lumia devices, and are looking forward to delighting our fans on the Windows Phone platform."

On Tuesday, May 8, Nokia also unveiled an augmented reality app called City Lens for its Windows Phone-based Lumia lineup. The app uses the phone's camera to show stores, restaurants and other such venues in the user's immediate vicinity. The City Lens app allows the user to scan the horizon with the phone's camera and see what venues are available in the vicinity. The app will display reviews and star ratings for each location, and users can share their destination via social networks, email or SMS, or tap to call for more information.

(reported by Alexandra Burlacu, edited by Dave Clark)