In a move that spells change of strategy, Nokia - the world's leading cellphone maker, which has been struggling to get a notable foothold in the North American markets - said on Thursday that intends shuttering its two flagship US retail outlets early next year.

Located in New York and Chicago, the two to-be-closed US stores currently include Nokia's 12 brick-and-mortar global retail outlets.

In a statement, Nokia said: "The Flagship stores were originally conceived to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility through an innovative retail experience, and to broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand."

Saying that the consumer awareness in the US has grown notably ever since the opening of the stores in 2006, the statement added: "Weighing those dynamics with Nokia's clear strategy in North America, and our well-established retail channel with third parties, we will close these two stores (New York and Chicago) in early 2010."

Commenting on the recent Nokia decision, Ben Wood, research director at CCS Insight, London, said that Nokia would practically like to switch over to operator-specific activities in the US because its has only a single-digit market share in the country, as compared to its 37 percent share in the global market.

In addition to shutting down its US stores, Nokia will also close one of its two London stores, and relocate its Sao Paolo store.