Nokia Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Smartphones Hitting U.S. Only in 2012?

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Nokia is expected to launch its first Windows Phone 7.5 Mango handsets at Nokia World this week, and we have already seen some of them (Searay, Sabre and Ace) in various leaks. But U.S. customers interested in Nokia smartphones running Microsoft’s platform may have to wait until 2012 to get theirs.

According to AdAge, mass marketing for the Nokia WP handsets will only start in 2012 in the U.S. which seems to indicate that the Finnish manufacturer may miss out on this year’s holiday season shopping spree. We already know that Microsoft is very interested in promoting Windows Phone smartphones even if that means spending extra cash to help manufacturing partners in the UK, but that may not be enough.

U.S. smartphone fans interested in buying a new device by the end of the year already have some great prospects: iPhone 4S, Motorola Droid RAZR, Samsung Galaxy Nexus or HTC Rezound (not launched yet) being just some of them. The iPhone 4S is already selling like hotcakes from three U.S. carriers and the RAZR and Galaxy Nexus are very hot topics this days, a week after their official announcement.

Nokia appears to be trailing behind its competitors when it comes to product launches, buzz, and ad spend. The giant phone maker is reportedly more interested in protecting its European foothold although it’s already exploring advertising means for the USA as well:

Nokia is currently evaluating agencies to launch its Windows Phones planned for 2012, according to a briefing document, and has tapped a little-known independent London shop to lead marketing for the new handsets. It’s specifically looking for a San Francisco-area digital agency to “dimensionalize” the global creative idea “Amazing Everyday.” What does that mean exactly? “Hidden away in the everyday landscape are billions of little adventures,” the brief says. “And the new Nokia with Windows Phone makes it easier to find them, to take part in them and to share them.” […]

As a last-ditch attempt to become relevant in the new world of smartphones and platforms increasingly dominated by Apple and Google, Nokia has a lot riding on the upcoming Windows Phone. As in the past, focusing on Europe first appears to be the strategy.

“Nokia needs to protect its foothold in Europe before it can even think about other markets,” said one executive familiar with the company’s marketing. The Finnish company has traditionally spent the bulk of its $200-million-plus global budget in Europe.

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango handsets from Nokia competitors will hit U.S. stores this year, as HTC and Samsung both launching new devices with AT&T and T-Mobile.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more details about Nokia’s new WP7.5 handsets as well as launch plans and prices as soon as they become official at Nokia World.