• by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, April 2, 2012

As part of a brash new ad campaign, Nokia says the smartphone business has so far been in a “beta” period -- and only its new Windows Phones can change that. 

“The smartphone beta test is almost over,” reads a teaser site that appears to be counting down to the launch of Nokia’s Lumia 900 smartphone, which AT&T is expected to start selling in the coming days. 

“Mobile vendors are not shy when it comes to head on battles and throwing stones at each other rather than creating advertising to promote their own product advantages,” The Next Web writes. “Now Nokia is trashing its competitors by drawing attention to their faults, branding other smartphones as ‘beta test phones’ that are not complete or reliable on release.”

“We've been expecting something big from Nokia for the American launch of the Lumia 900, and now we're seeing the beginnings of a bold strategy,” The Verge writes.

“Here comes Microsoft/Nokia’s anti-iPhone campaign,” writes 9To5Mac.

 “It’s on like Donkey Kong,” as TechCrunch puts it. “Nokia is back and ready to take on the big dogs. Several Nokia TV adverts started airing last night that don’t dance around the prime targets. Nope, Nokia’s latest ad campaign, The Smartphone Beta Test, is a clever but very direct shot at Apple and Google.” 

“The open question is whether consumers will feel similarly about the new Nokia phone, or if they will prefer the current generation of ‘beta’ devices from Apple, Samsung, HTC and others,” writesAllThingsD. “The stakes for Nokia and Microsoft are huge, with some pundits calling the Lumia 900 the companies’ last, best hope to make Windows Phone a hit.”

“It's no secret Nokia is willing to market the hell out of this thing,” Business Insider writes. Yet, “This is a pretty lame first step. Smearing Apple hasn't worked for Motorola or Samsung. Nokia should just focus on what makes the Lumia great.”