Nokia 5800 U.S. launch is a fiasco, can we expect better in the future here?
I have to say that these last few days have been some of the most confusing ever in regards to the Nokia 5800 NAM device. We first heard that the 5800 devices were in Nokia Flagship stores, then that they were being delayed from selling due to inventory/computer issues, then they were being sold for $359 instead of $399 (site shows they are back up to $399) or for $399 with a $50 Amazon voucher, and finally that they were being returned due to lack of 3G performance on AT&T. The latest talk now is that the 5800 NAM devices may be working with 3G on AT&T now and that the issue may actually have been an AT&T issue and not a Nokia issue. No matter who is at fault with this issue, I have to say this was a pretty lame launch for the 5800 here in the U.S. and is definitely not the kind of coverage Nokia needs if they really want to have an impact on the market here.
I bought a Euro 5800 and have been pretty happy with it and with an unlocked price of $350 or so Nokia could have probably done pretty well with a decent launch event. I would have liked to have seen some celebrities or other big names launching the 5800 at the Nokia Flagship stores or at least some kind of party to generate some excitement for the device. As it stands, unless you are a Nokia fan you probably would never have known that the 5800 was in the stores this week.
If you want a Nokia device that for sure works on the AT&T HSDPA network then you may want to consider my favorite Nokia E71. Then again, Nokia has dropped the ball here too with most of the E71 devices sold at retailers here in the U.S. being unable to upgrade to the latest firmware.
As a fan of Nokia devices, this news really is quite frustrating and disappointing. It actually has me thinking twice about jumping too fast on the N97 bandwagon. Then again those E77 and E55 devices look attractive to me. I enjoy using Nokia devices because the phones are outstanding with excellent RF reception and rock solid stability. I just wish that the support and services were better in the U.S. and hope this changes in the near future.
UPDATE: I just finished browsing through more of the Nokia sites and saw that Ricky posted a very good post on this same subject that covers even more than I wrote about and I can feel his frustration.
15 Comments to Nokia 5800 U.S. launch is a fiasco, can we expect better in the future here?
Each time Nokia USA stuffs things up good and proper I’m amazed. Amazed that heads haven’t rolled. Particularly at the top.
Hoe many more of these type of posts do I have to read before they clean the closet?
Tim B.March 1, 2009
On top of the above mentioned comment, why would any company try to sell a music phone with free music for one year from a music store that does not yet exist. Why would anyone buy that phone knowing that they are not getting full value for their investment.
Nokia’s 5800 NAM is jinxed , from the first day they are having problems from launch to post launch , i did a sum up at http://senseapplied.com/index.php/nokia-5800-nam-is-jinxed/ btw for a phone which can shatter glass it’s gaining a lot of bad luck http://senseapplied.com/index.php/5800-speakers-can-break-glass/ Farhan
March 1, 2009
[...] The folks at Nokia Experts are already calling the U.S. 5800 XpressMusic launch a “fiasco.” [...]
March 1, 2009
[...] folks at Nokia Experts are already calling the U.S. 5800 XpressMusic launch a “fiasco.” [The Nokia Blog - Thanks, [...]
March 1, 2009
[...] folks at Nokia Experts are already calling the U.S. 5800 XpressMusic launch a “fiasco.” [The Nokia Blog - Thanks, [...]
Jeffdc5March 1, 2009
Yeah that’s bad. I had an awfull experience with the nokia store in new York they wanted 430 for and e71 and the guy helping me acted like I was bothering him. I got j&r music world to match neweggs online price. I loved the phone but had to use a program to change the product code so I could update the firmware. The e71 felt rock solid, my new n85 feels cheap and flymsy I’m afraid to even drop it on my bed. I don’t seem to enjoy the n85 as much as the e71. My friend has an n96 his battery life is horrid an my oled screen is nicer but his n96 seems lie it’s build twice as good nokia needs to get back to making quality phones.
March 2, 2009
[...] Rumor: ‘Millions’ of Flawed Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Causing Issues, Nokia Now Selling Euro Version Nokia 5800 U.S. launch is a fiasco, can we expect better in the future here? | Nokia Experts Why Nokia Sucks In The U.S. Market | Symbian-Guru.com if you analyse the info. there is / was a [...]
March 2, 2009
[...] Nokia Experts – US Music Express 5800 launch botched [...]
March 4, 2009
[...] folks at Nokia Experts are already calling the U.S. 5800 XpressMusic launch a “fiasco.” [The Nokia Blog - Thanks, [...]
[...] the Nokia 5800 NAM launch did not go so well, according to Ricky the 3G issue has been fixed with a firmware update. I guess [...]
March 5, 2009
[...] folks at Nokia Experts are already calling the U.S. 5800 XpressMusic launch a “fiasco.” [The Nokia Blog - Thanks, [...]
March 24, 2009
[...] 5800 XpressMusic is built, … I hope Nokia will realize it in future firmware updates. … Nokia 5800 U.S. launch is a fiasco, can we expect better in the …Nokia 5800 U.S. launch is a fiasco, can we expect better in the future here? …. Nokia 5800 NAM [...]
June 9, 2009
[...] were a few issues and blown opportunities with the launch of the excellent Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device and now it appears Nokia is sticking [...]
abcyesnJune 14, 2009
Aloha from Hawaii. My name is Tim, aka Cellular-Decay.
In spite of my fascination with gadgets, I only recently got into fancy cell phones (”smart” phones). I used to carry a basic phone and a PDA, because I didn’t like what was available in “convergence” devices. It just seemed like they were too much of a compromise.
The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic “Tube” seems to have changed my mind, since my old Razr and Zodiac have been collecting dust lately. There are things the Zodiac did better, but I’m still early in the learning curve for the 5800, and I’m pretty confident that with some more time (and applications) I will find it easy to forget the old Z.
There are, of course, lots of things the 5800 does better, so even if I can’t totally forget the Z, I’m sure I won’t have any regrets.
Oh well..I hang out at http://www.Nokia5800Forum.com a lot. take care all. See ya ’round.
March 1, 2009