[geturactogether]

Tough luck everyone..  So we're stuck with basically .. nothing .. from Nokia to choose from.  Time to look at other brands.

"Hi,

This is a follow up based on your recent enquiry.

I have just received an update from the relevant department and please be advised that we have received confirmation that the Nokia N900 would not be released in Australia and New Zealand.

Kindly be advised that all new product launches are carrier and market dependent in all countries due to the tests carried out to ensure compatibility with network and government regulations.

Nevertheless, what I can do for you is forward your email as feedback to our Research and Development (R&D) department for future consideration in our product developments.

I do hope that this answers your question. We, at Nokia, thank you for your continuous support!

Thank you for emailing Nokia Careline!

Do you know you can now update your phone software at your own convenience?
Visit www.nokia.com.au/support to check if your phone model is supported and download the "Nokia Software Updater".

Kind regards,

Renuka
Nokia Careline
Please contact us at 1300 366 733
www.nokia.com.au/support"

[Jargon]

Wow, top work once again Nokia!

I'm all the more glad now that I managed to get an unbranded N97...

[arvar]

so does that mean if we buy it form the states, it wont work in oz

[geturactogether]

Maybe it will, maybe it won't, depending on your network, but you wont' get any support in Australia - and look how much work the N97 has needed.

Get it at your own risk.

[maxximuscool]

what !! that is a really bad news. Do you know if this coming to Asia at all then? if it is not coming to NZ and Ausie, it would be nice to get it from ASIA.

[geturactogether]

Who can tell with Nokia.  They change their mind more often than hyper caffeinated consumers at a shoe sale.

I suspect this is either due to a bizarre push to not canabilise existing sales of their amazing world shaking 'N97', or networks not wanting to carry it, who Nokia see as their sales channel and ultimate customers.

If the latter is the case, I suspect it is something to do with an inability to really lock down and cripple the firmware with 'branding'.  Remember how VoIP was quietly buried in the N97?

This just proves that your phone network is Nokia's true customer, not you.

Apple turned this model on its head by selling to *consumers* rather than networks.

So no, with Nokia's current business model and attitude, I don't see this changing.

Sure you can get it from overseas, it may or may not work, but Nokia won't care as long as this is not sold through their existing sales channels in Australia, being the networks, who they really care about.

[travla]

This is really bad news, more for Nokia than the actual consumers. They're further isolating their high end "end users", who are ultimately the customers, regardless of the networks.

As for questions related to whether an imported N900 will work in Australia, it definitely will work on all networks BUT not on Telstra's 3G network, which is on the 850 WCDMA band. Optus and Vodafone use 1900 & 2100 for 3G services which are both available on the N900. So you would only need an adaptor for the charger (or just buy another USB charger).

[zgeek]

Well that's the final nail in the coffin for me and nokia. I've had a constant **bleep** fight to keep my n97 working properly and now no n900.

I had hoped to dump this piece of **bleep** phone for an n900 but now I will just get an iphone.

I have always bought nokia phones, ever since I have used a mobile.Great way to completely f**k your brand nokia.

You have lost me as a customer.

[geturactogether]

Yeah I'm eyeing Samsung and Android right now..  I heard early 2010 will be party time for new smart phones.  About time too because my N95 is really about to give up the ghost thanks to the 'designed obsolescence' and 'engineered lifespan' in Nokia phones.

[zgeek]

I'm actually considering going back to my n95 due to my n97 being so unreliable.

[geturactogether]

I'm glad I stuck with the N95 too..  At least it *works*.  It was the last decent phone that Nokia released.  I was hanging out for the N900 but Nokia have confirmed through several channels that it is not being released in Australia, so why bother hanging around. I'm just annoyed that I have to wait until Q1 2010 before Samsung, etc all release their new major products.

Lets face it, all smartphones except Apple are just re-badged phones from that Chinese manufacturer these days anyway, so the only difference is the OS and available apps.  If Ovi is any indication of what Maemo would have offered, it would have sucked anyway.

Now Nokia own QT (Trolltech), are open sourcing Symbian, gone cheap-shore on everything - the whole thing is just a bizarre mess that makes little sense.  Sounds great from a tech-head point of view, but makes little business sense.

I am yet to actually see or hear of anyone using a N97 outside of forums (where the feedback us unanimously bad), yet everyone has an iPhone.

What's going on Nokia, do you have a pulse, hello, any signs of life?

[lilcrim]

Do you think there will be any problems updating the device?

[geturactogether]

No, the N95 did not have any problems.  Can't say about any models after that.  They seem to be regarded as a bit of a failure for updates.

[lilcrim]

What about if i import an n900 into australia, will keeping the device updated with the latest updates be as simple as connecting it to a PC and using some sort of Nokia device manager software, like the nokia n95 for example?

[geturactogether]

Get the all amazing N97, you won't get the N900, period.  Nokia are going back to making rubber boots.

[lemmings]

I am hoping that this reply must just be Nokia internal department ignorance.

It would be utter stupidity for the management to not bring the N900 to Australia.

Nokia don't have any other handset model that can hope to compete with the iphone

and android based offerings coming on to the market.

[maxximuscool]

Yay I'm getting my Nokia N900 Pre-order it. Hope to get it before Xmas . Guys try Expansys.co.au they have N900 pre-order there. Availibility is in 3days.

I'm getting mine from  USA though. Can't get in NZ nor ASIA so USA is the only place.

[geturactogether]

get used to it, Nokia have confirmed this several times as reported on various forums.  The widely held belief is that Nokia could not reach an agreement with their sales channels being the networks and / or fear of cannabilising the already lacklustre sales of the flailing N97.  I have not yet met a single person who knows of let alone has a N97.  Stark contrast to the N95 when it came out.

I advise against ordering from overseas due to warranty and service issues.  You think you have problems with Nokia Care now?  Wait until you go in with a 'foreign' device due to stepping outside their sales channel system (networks).

[maxximuscool]

dude, Expansys gave warrenty with their purchase man. All you have to do is send it back to them and they will handle the rest with NOkia. As for me I am getting it from USA instead. I have a sister and brother in law living over there, therefore If there anything wrong with the device I can always send it back to them and my relatives will take care of it with NOKIA.

:-) No biggy mate.

[lilcrim]

WOW, I just tried to order it from Amazon (its only 549 US). This is what I got when I tried to checkout "Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty cannot be shipped to the selected address."

After clicking the "Learn More" link I got a generic message about warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions to certain locations. Has anyone been able to order this thing from a US store yet?