I was surprised to read (via Mobiletoday) that o2 isn’t bothering with the Nokia N96. Apparently they have allocated the majority of their subsidy budget to the Apple iPhone.
O2’s management team is looking to rein in the spiralling cost of Nokia’s Nseries handsets in light of the lower average monthly spends on postpay. The operator believes there is no merit in stocking the N96 if its minimum line rental offer for a free N96 is higher than rivals’.
Fascinating.
As we’ve already seen a few times here on Mobile Industry Review, the N96 is lacking the graphics capabilities of the N95 8GB. James did a side-by-side comparison a while ago showing how woeful the experience was.
That shouldn’t interfere with your day to day calling on the N96 – but for a high end phone, it’s a little disappointing. One expects the incremented model number to mean it’s better.
I think o2 are right. If you can make more profits with Apple, stick with Apple. There is, I suspect, a lot more people willing to pay a premium for an Apple vs a Nokia.
I discussed getting the N96 with the O2 retention department a couple of weeks ago and they said that it had been delayed until October as they had “found issues” with it on the network. I therefore asked about the Samsung Omnia, and again they said they weren’t currently going to stock that either! Congrats to O2, they have now just lost a customer to Vodafone as we don’t all just want an iPhone! Perhaps they need to rename themselves to i2 instead of O2!
Oh dear… might have to consider my position when my contract is up with O2. Rubbish 🙁
Did you really want the N96 that bad? What were the compelling improvements over the N95 8GB?
…that is, ones that make up for the drawbacks of a rubbish keypad and no graphics acceleration?
Not specifically the N96 – but if they are looking at not having the N-Series and focusing more on the iPhone. I pay a fair bit a month and want a phone that reflects that, I personally don't think the iPhone does.
Neither am I.
The N96 is supposed to be the Nokia Flag Ship model but its taken so long to come out the other phones are coming out within the nokia range that have similar or better features….
Its really bad if the main nokia is not going to be covered by one of the big networks….
Does some of the blame lie with Nokia for taking such a long time to bring this phone to market?
i heard oranger were ditching it too
its headed the way of many of the N 9 series – sim free only. – like N91/93/93i. N92 never even made it here sim free did it?
the main reason is O2 will be pushing the livign daylights out of the N85.
and teh N95 8gig is still a good seller – its as good/better than N96 and alot cheaper
seems bbc are sending the N96 a lifeline (in the uk at least)
http://tinyurl.com/5j8uwx
with the right marketing and iPlayer shipping in uk retail units
it stands a chance.
presumably it will work on all recent s60 phones
but as you all know its the way its sold thats important
now N85 will probably have it too.
mac
Agreed, it's taken far too long…
2008/9/5 Disqus <>
But The uSD card slot? the nice shiny flat keypad? the plastic kickstand?
<anguished howl>…..will no-one think of the nice plastic kickstand…
But The uSD card slot? the nice shiny flat keypad? the plastic kickstand?
<anguished howl>…..will no-one think of the nice plastic kickstand…
Agreed, it's taken far too long…
2008/9/5 Disqus <>
But The uSD card slot? the nice shiny flat keypad? the plastic kickstand?
<anguished howl>…..will no-one think of the nice plastic kickstand…
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Hey,
Thought you might be interested. You can order the N96 here:
http://www.onestopdiscount.co.uk/contract-mobile-phone/Nokia-N96/N96