Nokia’s first Windows Phone device is on sale in Australia today from local carriers Optus and Vodafone.

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Nokia’s Lumia 800 is available today from Optus and Vodafone stores. Vodafone has priced the phone at $0 on a $49 cap over 24 months, while Optus is charging $3 for the phone per month on its $49 cap.

The Lumia 800 is Nokia’s first smartphone running the Windows Phone operating system to hit Australia. It largely resembles the salient Nokia N9; however the mandatory Windows buttons distinguish one from the other.

A 1.4GHz processor sifts through its Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, while 1GB of RAM handles applications and an Adreno 205 GPU deals with the multimedia.

Its back has an 8MP camera that is capable of 720p recording and is complemented by a LED flash.

Nokia’s screens have always been good, with the company’s rendition of black proving superior to rivals on several occasions. The Lumia 800’s screen boasts 16 million colours, but its 3.7 inch span dons a now mediocre 800 x 400 resolution.

Lacking innovative hardware, the Lumia 800 is banking on its Windows user experience, with Nokia’s Stephen Elop calling it “the first real Windows Phone,” despite Samsung and HTC already offering phones with the software. Having used the device (briefly), I can testify it does transition gracefully from one screen to the next, masking each instruction with eloquent animations that do conjure an enjoyable experience. Our soon-to-be uploaded review will delve into this, so keep an eye on this space.

Ross Parker, who is the General Manager of Devices at Vodafone, believes the Lumia 800 will capitalise as an alternative to the popular Android and iOS smartphones.

“It’s great to see Nokia’s first Windows Phone smartphone launch with Vodafone and we think it offers a credible alternative for both our consumers and business customers,” said Parker.

“Combining Nokia’s stunning new design language with the latest Windows operating system will give consumers a simple yet powerful smartphone experience which is sure to be a popular choice.”

The Lumia 800 will also be available for outright purchase from Dick Smith and Harvey Norman from the 15th of March. Both retailers are currently taking pre-orders, at $628 and $627 respectively.