Nokia Lumia 800 on sale in UK today

Nokia's Lumia 800, the first Nokia to run the Windows Phone operating system, is on sale today in the UK.

If you've got deep pockets and don't want to ruin yourself with a lengthy contract, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4u have told us they will be selling the Lumia 800 SIM-free. Carphone Warehouse is flogging it for £470, while network Three is selling it on pay as you go for £400.

The Lumia 800 isn't just any boring old Nokia blower -- running Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system, it represents a huge gambit on Nokia's part.

For years the Finnish phone maker has ignored the siren call of Android, choosing instead to stuff its phones with other operating systems such as Symbian and MeeGo.

Now that Nokia is in cahoots with Microsoft we'll be seeing more Windows Phone mobiles from them in the future. The question is whether Nokia's recognisable name and hardware heritage can drag this currently small-time operating system into the limelight.

We're big fans of Windows Phone and its slick, intuitive interface. It's a shame there aren't as many appealing apps available as on iPhone or Android, but that will change if Nokia can help get Windows Phone devices into enough peoples' pockets.

So is the Lumia itself any good? We awarded it four stars, making it a very tidy mobile indeed, if not Earth-shattering. We've got nothing but praise for the stylish, robust design, though we noted that the 8-megapixel camera is merely average.

Will you be picking one up? Are you ready to take the plunge with Windows Phone, or would you rather opt for Android or iOS? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on our Google+ page.