Do any Nokia Insiders Read This Blog?
My current cell phone is a Nokia 9300, a clamshell (i.e. mini-laptop) design running the Symbian OS. It's a nice device, reminiscent of my beloved Psions, but I have a substantial list of ways in which it could be improved.
Apparently Nokia read the list; their newer E90 has the larger screen I've been wanting, a variety of other improvements, and built-in GPS, which I would have put on my list if it had occurred to me. It's quad band, so I don't have to wait for a U.S. version to come out.
Or perhaps I do. The phone can connect to the internet using the same GPRS EDGE technology as my present phone. But it can also connect via a much faster technology, covered by several related multi-initial terms (HSDPA, WCDMA, UMTS). Unfortunately, so far as I can tell, that connection uses a frequency not supported by any U.S. carrier.
If I were sure that was not going to change, I would buy the phone, probably after waiting a week or two to see if I can get a better deal on it than currently available--it's apparently in short supply at the moment. Even without the 3G connection it's a very attractive device. If, on the other hand, they are going to bring out a U.S. version next month, I would prefer to wait.
So far as I can tell, Nokia doesn't provide much in the way of advance notice on such things. Do any Nokia insiders read this blog? I can be reached at ddfr@daviddfriedman.com.
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This Post is Now Obsolete
Nokia has just released the U.S. version of the E90, supporting UMTS on 1900 MHz.
The Information Above is False
I just received my "US Version" E90. Contrary to what I was quite explicitly told by Nokia, it does not support UMTS on 1900 MHz--like the European version, is uses 2100 MHz, which is not supported by any US provider. Hence the "US Version" is precisely as compatible--and incompatible--with US cell phone providers as the European version.
Yes I am annoyed.