Struggling mobile phone maker Nokia has disclosed a software bug in its new flagship Lumia 900 model, dealing a setback to its ambitions to re-enter the US smartphone market.

"A memory management issue was discovered that could, in some cases, lead to loss of data connectivity," Nokia smartphone unit chief Jo Harlow and Nokia US chief Chris Weber said in a joint statement.

"This issue is purely in the phone software, and is not related to either phone hardware or the network itself," they said. A solution would be available around April 16th.

The model went on sale in the United States through AT&T on April 8th and is due to launch globally this quarter.

Nokia said it will offer anyone who has bought Lumia 900, or will buy by April 21st, a $100 credit to their AT&T bill.

Nokia lost smartphone market dominance to Apple and Google in part due to its weak performance in the United States and the Lumia 900, which uses Microsoft's Windows Phone software, is a key component in its comeback bid.

"It's like they stalled their engine when everybody is looking at them at the start of their race," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

"They really did not need it particularly in this market, but I like the way they are dealing with it.”