(Image Source: Gizmodo)

BY EVAN THOMAS
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Looking for an alternative to the Apple and Android arms race? Rumor has it the Nokia Lumia 900, the company’s new top-end smartphone, will hit the U.S. on March 18th.

Boy Genius Report cites a “trusted source” somewhere within AT&T, who says the Windows Mobile-equipped phone will be a comparative steal.

“...AT&T and Nokia are planning to launch this flagship smartphone at just $99.99 on a two-year contract. That price point would make this sleek smartphone an absolute game-changer for Windows Phone...”

And, as the Los Angeles Times points out, that price stacks up very favorably against other top contenders.

“If the rumor is true, the AT&T-exclusive smartphone would come in at about half the price of the entry-level Apple iPhone 4S and even less than half the price of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.”

And that’s a bold strategy, according to TechCrunch.

“...it almost looks like Nokia is mirroring their aggressive European plan to push those units into people’s hands first and worry about profits later.”

The Lumia doesn’t have the same hardware muscle as its competition from Apple, HTC and the like. But it made waves earlier this month. Many tech publications, PCWorld among them, called the 900 the best smartphone of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

TheNextWeb says if it catches on, the 900 could deal a pretty serious blow to its competition.

“...a phone that rivals the iPhone 4S on looks and usability, for half the cost. Android can only say, in response to that, that it has the second most popular app store and faster chips in its phones. I doubt that consumers are going to find that very appealing.”

But don’t go inking the 18th into your calendars just yet. BGR reports the 900 has yet to receive its technical certification, so the exact release date could change.