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Americans: Rent a Nokia N96 for $36/month

Rentobile is genius. I’ve been thinking of starting something like this for a while in the UK.

But for Americans, stuffed by the (somewhat) rubbish mobile carriers in the States not carrying Nokia or any other decent European devices, this is a boon.

Rentobile carries a large range of different devices — some locked to the big networks, others entirely unlocked.

If you’re a member (rates vary, but if you buy a year’s membership, it works out at $5 per month) you can get hold of most of the top of the range devices for around $35-40. I’m talking N96, E71, Sony Ericsson Xperia and so on.

If you choose not to be a member, then you pay about $20 more for the monthly handset rental rate. And the minimum rental period is a month.

I reckon this service will — if it hasn’t already — garner a huge, huge following from the Americans starved of access to European devices.

I’m right, aren’t I? I could name 10 US citizens right now who’d sign-up for this in a jiffy. You don’t want to go spunking $500 for an unlocked handset from a supplier only to find out it’s not.that.good do you? So rent it for a month … then try another one.

I haven’t tried this myself although I’m tempted to arrange something for when I’m in Las Vegas.

Anyone else tried it?

See also the service write-up write up on Springwise. (Thanks Charlie)

9 COMMENTS

  1. the other great thing is it lets you try before you buy
    and not have to commit to 18 months with a device.

    many people are happy to have the same phoen for ever
    but ProMob's change every 6 months
    or at least I would like to test drive new phones every few months then give em back

    i still use my N95 classic – though the 5800 is winning me over. until the N97 comes along

  2. the other great thing is it lets you try before you buy
    and not have to commit to 18 months with a device.

    many people are happy to have the same phoen for ever
    but ProMob's change every 6 months
    or at least I would like to test drive new phones every few months then give em back

    i still use my N95 classic – though the 5800 is winning me over. until the N97 comes along

  3. I just signed up for a three month membership for $19.96. After you sign up, each phone tells you ERROR – Out of Stock. Kinda weak when I'm burning days.

    I've emailed their support for help or a refund.

  4. I just signed up for a three month membership for $19.96. After you sign up, each phone tells you ERROR – Out of Stock. Kinda weak when I'm burning days.

    I've emailed their support for help or a refund.

  5. Update, they've responded to my email, stating that they'd hold a device for me, while I'm still burning days on my membership. They asked me what device I'd like to reserve.

    I decided to cancel my membership, if they have no devices available. I tried to call the phone number on their email, but it's disconnected. I'm not getting a warm feeling about this company.

  6. Update, they've responded to my email, stating that they'd hold a device for me, while I'm still burning days on my membership. They asked me what device I'd like to reserve.

    I decided to cancel my membership, if they have no devices available. I tried to call the phone number on their email, but it's disconnected. I'm not getting a warm feeling about this company.

  7. Update, they've responded to my email, stating that they'd hold a device for me, while I'm still burning days on my membership. They asked me what device I'd like to reserve.

    I decided to cancel my membership, if they have no devices available. I tried to call the phone number on their email, but it's disconnected. I'm not getting a warm feeling about this company.

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