Judging from the conversations I hear at work, at family gatherings, and in public, it's because $99 is widely considered a ridiculously large amount of money to spend on a phone. Phones are free, and it seems as though anyone paying...well, paying at all feels they need explain their foolish behaviour. "Actually, I, umm, had to pay $39 dollars for this one. I know! I just really liked the color."

The iPhone and Blackberries are the exceptions to this. Of course you paid something. They're iPhones and Blackberries. Besides, it's high time you replaced that pink Razr that it was fully acceptable for you to pay money for years ago.

Between the American carriers and the American consumers, it's no surprise Nokia keeps away.