Nokia today announced it is launching a new version of the Lumia 920 in partnership with China Mobile.

The Lumia 920T, which will be available for order without contract at the end of the year at the price of 4,599 yuan (£459), is set to become the first Windows-based device to run on China's TD-SCDMA network.

"We are delighted to partner with China Mobile, the world's largest operator, to introduce China's first Lumia based on Windows Phone 8," said Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia. "People around the world are responding positively to the new Lumia devices, and we're confident that the enthusiasm will extend to China with the Lumia 920T."

Crucially, China Mobile, unlike its main competitors, does not offer any iPhone deals, meaning that The Nokia Lumia 920T will be instantly recognisable as the stand-out device for any China Mobile consumers wishing to make use of its 3G network.

China Mobile is China's – and the world's – biggest mobile operator, with over 703 million subscribers, 75 million of whom use its 3G service.

"Our close cooperation with Nokia is a key contributor to the success of China's TD industry, and will further enhance the rapidly growing TD ecosystem. We are excited about this important next step in our partnership, and we look forward to creating an even more vibrant TD industry together," added Li Yue, president of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

This news could signal a massive boost for the Finnish company, which recently announced it will sell its head office to Exilion for £137 million.

The mobile manufacturer this year fell from third to seventh place in the rankings of worldwide smartphone sales.