DailyTech - Nokia Halts 5800 XpressMusic Phone Sales in America

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Gadgets Nokia Halts 5800 XpressMusic Phone Sales in America
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - March 3, 2009 12:35 PM

11 comment(s) - last by Samus.. on Mar 5 at 12:41 PM

Nokia handset was pulled after connectivity issues on AT&T 3G network were reported

The iPhone has spawned an entire ecosystem of touchscreen devices that look to dethrone the Apple handset from the top of the smartphone pile. One of the most recent challengers to the iPhone came from the Nokia and is called the 5800 XpressMusic phone.

The handset launched on February 25 in America. The handset had been available in Europe since October 2008 and from launch until January 2009, Nokia said that the device had moved a million units.

Nokia brought the handset to America as an unlocked device, meaning that it had no carrier deal and promised to operate on most networks around the country. One of the big networks that Nokia promised compatibility with was AT&T. As it turns out, compatibility with AT&T’s network was not optimal for many users and after only a few days on the market, Nokia has stopped selling the handset in America until it can sort out issues with the AT&T 3G network reported by users.

According to AT&T users, the Nokia device failed to connect to the 3G network. Nokia said in a statement, "We have learned that some Nokia 5800 XpressMusic devices are having issues with 3G performance. This is a very isolated problem concerning only the North American market and is not specific to any other region or country."

Nokia was quick to point out that the issue with the handset was limited to America and specifically was limited only to users in New York and Chicago. Nokia promises that there will be a "quick remedy" to the connection issue plaguing the handset. The 5800 XpressMusic retails for $399 in America. The handset runs version five of Symbian S60 and features a 3.2-inch touchscreen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, and a FM receiver.

Nokia's CEO announced the day after the American launch of the 5800 XpressMusic that the company may enter the netbook market.

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Who cares ?

By chick0n on 3/3/2009 12:53:26 PM , Rating: 2

AT&T/Cingular is the worst carrier Of all times.

I think the problem is AT&T's garbage network. not Nokia's.

RE: Who cares ?

By Spivonious on 3/3/2009 12:55:33 PM , Rating: 3

AT&T is the best network in my area, so it really depends on where you are.

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RE: Who cares ?

By Screwballl on 3/3/2009 1:11:31 PM , Rating: 2

agreed.... I think Verizon has the best signal/3G in most areas... there may be a few specific locations where others have better but for most of the US, Verizon has the lead.

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RE: Who cares ?

By lexluthermiester on 3/3/2009 8:08:40 PM , Rating: 2

This in not so true. Verizon does have good signal and 3g rates but since trying out T-mobile, I've found that in many areas, both at home and in areas I travel too, they seem to have better. And I agree with the AT&T statement, when I had them it was dismal. And lets not even start on Sprint.

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RE: Who cares ?

By Diesel Donkey on 3/3/2009 10:47:07 PM , Rating: 3

As I understand it, Sprint does not have the greatest coverage, but when you do find yourself in their coverage area they have the best data speeds. I use Sprint myself, but I won't even offer up my own coverage anecdotes because to do so is pointless--coverage for every carrier varies all over the place.

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RE: Who cares ?

By Samus on 3/5/2009 12:41:06 PM , Rating: 2

Tmobile is and always will be a joke nation-wide until the FCC sells them a larger portion of the 900/1800mhz spectrum. They are starved compared to AT&T (who uses the same spectrum utilizing a broader range.

I've never been a big fan of GSM signal quality...although it is improving, nothing compares the CDMA. Although CDMA is 50 years old and very expensive to maintain, it is simply clearer, and the fact that most carriers in the USA use it speaks for itself...the rest of the world (except for Korea) use GSM though because its cheap and the carriers (Tmobile in Europe has three times the bandwidth they have in the US) so it sucks when traveling with a CDMA carrier.

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RE: Who cares ?

By Chocobollz on 3/3/09, Rating: 0

$399

By ghost101 on 3/3/2009 4:07:14 PM , Rating: 2

Why is it so expensive in the states? Isn't it supposed to be 279 euros ($349)?

I bought mine here in the UK at the largest phone store for £210 (inc 15% VAT) unlocked to all networks when it was released. Just for a comparison the iphone 8gb version costs £342 locked to a single network.

RE: $399

By DLeRium on 3/3/2009 6:36:57 PM , Rating: 4

The US is backwards in terms of cell phone technology. We're pathetic. Notice no one's even talking about the phone here.

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RE: $399

By MFK on 3/4/2009 5:52:30 PM , Rating: 2

Haha, SO true!

I am a die-hard Nokia fan though.
Tried Motorolas, Sony-Ericssons and LGs, but KEPT coming back to Nokias.

They are the biggest phone manufacturer in the world, but the North American market, they go largely ignored for some reason!

I'm guessing we can hold the cheap subsidized phones guilty for that fact?

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Britneys Phone!

By MFK on 3/4/2009 5:48:34 PM , Rating: 2

Oh, isn't this the phone that Britney Spears uses in her video?

I wanted to pick one up for myself but I had a hard time convincing my self to, after it was made an open secret that this phone is just an experiment with the touch UI.

Nokia N97 is where it is going to be at!
With a price to match its functionality.

Maybe they will release firmware updates to make the Xpress Music more responsive?