Recently we wrote here at NokiaN96.net about the FCC approval of Nokia N96. Yesterday it was announced that Nokia will start distributing their device to the retailers in the 4Q this year, which means that they are trying to push the market in this Christmas in the USA. As we know, the marketing strategy is similar in the rest of the world, as well as the advert produced by Nokia that unites all religions, all ethnics for an universal release - In one word, Christmas is the target!

Nokia yesterday announced that the Nokia N96 will be available for high-speed 3G HSDPA networks used in the U.S. starting from the 4Q this year. This news were expected, but they would always need confirmation from FCC. If the support wouldn’t be allowed, then we could think in the end of the competition between N96 an iPhone 3G. Thanks FCC!

The already widely tested Nokia N96 can be used to purchase and download movies, television shows and other video content on their PCs and upload them to their device, besides being available to easily download content from their devices.

With the integration in Ovi services, the Nokia N96 enables users to upload images, videos and other content using the this service, it also allows  navigation across town and country with Nokia Maps 2.0, or to play N-Gage games tournament with friends.

According to the press communication we received from Nokia, there will be 3 months of Nokia Maps 2.0 free navigation, as well as a voucher to purchase a full version of the N-Gage racing title Asphalt 3: Street Rules. This is only for the US package.

The Nokia N96 is expected for an estimated price of $900.

We are already in August and as you all know, the N96 is being released all over the world. Yesterday it was launched in India in big event with high media coverage. The journalists call the N96 the “iPhone killer”.

Will that be true? I really don’t know, but Nokia is taking the advantage of time, their  device reached India before iPhone 3G and will crossover India from 20th August selling 2000 Nokia N96 with a special price in a special offer, if you buy it then you will be one of the firsts buying the Nokia N96!

As you know, N96 is the first ever mobile device to offer a memory size of 16GB expandable to 32 GB through an external micro SD card (32GB! That was my old PC memory). I think I could store more than 60 hours of videos and movies with high quality (or more…).

I won’t buy one of this N96 in August, because I am not from India, but in fact I will buy when it is released in September. In many countries September is the month of release and it will also be for India.

Consumers from India will have an exclusive application, allowing them to track their handset if the device is lost or stolen, but also create a backup for the phone data via the Internet. That should make the 950mAh battery last fewer hours than it lasts already.

The rumour is now confirmed, and 15th September in another release date for Nokia N96 smart phone. According to webwereld, there was an agreement between Nokia and KPN, meaning that KPN will be the first provider of Nokia N96 in Netherlands. The agreement between KPN and Nokia is logical, because the N96 supports the mobile TV network (DVB-h) that KPN released earlier this year.

After the release by KPN, the other providers will also sell the mobile phone, there are no exclusivity rights. If you live in Netherlands you may buy the Nokia N96 from other providers. The agreement only focuses “the first provider”.

In July later, Nokia held a momentary action  with World Wildlife Fund, trying to save the the red panda in Nepal by selling Nokia N96 for 759 euros. Nobody know how many Nokias were sold from the 96 available…but this price remains as an indicator for the one KPN will use, because the source could not reveal an estimated price.

Anyway, KPN have just begun advertising with Google Adwords, and we are able to see when we search for “nokia n96″ at google.nl. You can just pre-order, you are not allowed to pay because KPN have not yet fixed a price. The only things you need to give them is your name and e-mail! That’s it!

Have you ever thought how could a system like google checkout, ebay and other websites fail with their costumers? Probably not at all. Although now we have an example prove that Google Checkout is failing in this subject.

Because, one thing is a pre-order, and another is an engineous spammer trying just to making money, without having a real Nokia N96 mobile phone. Some of those spammers, also have pre-orders. And this is the worst case and the most dangerous going on the net. Because, we will regist that pre-order, and we will wait more than 6 moths to the Nokia N96 official release. Passing so many time, the guys who sold us the mobile phone can say that their company gone on bankrupt or they simply can close the website. Google or ebay, those can’t do anything, because of the time passed.

Other thing they normally do is selling a thing related to nokia n96, a website, some head phones, etc. The customer is attracted from the NOKIA N96 letters and simply make an order.

What I am trying to say (is my “poor” English”) is that you must have double precaution. Nokia N96 will come and buying one day before or one day later will not make any difference. Anyway, if you want to register a pre-order, do that, but with a Nokia recognized website.

Look at this print screen, from Google Shopping. This are all pre-orders. The website have good ratings from the customers, but you will just see Nokia N96 on the release that, or after it.

As I said, at google shopping there are also spammers, and lots of them. Check the sellers right here and try to find who is an engineous spammer and who is an honest seller.

This example is one of a seller who is saying that he has Nokia N96 by 300$. Well, the official value will be more than 700$. So, be careful and in any case buy in this one.

Alfredo Padilla was at CTIA reporting for WirelessInfo, and had a chance to show us how the N96 behaved.

He spoke about the multimedia features, as well as the cosmetics and appearance of the phone. To add up he detailed the specifications.

Source: WirelessInfo via WOMWorld

Comment and Discuss here

Nokia N96 doesn’t have two LED flashes. It has 4, and plus 2 Argon flashes, which make you forget about Xenon.

And to demonstrate how strong the flash is, we got presented with two pictures under dark conditions:

This is only James Burland’s April Fools Joke. If you fell for it, be a man/woman and let us know on the comments section!

Source: Nokia Creative

Comment and Discuss here

This certainly comes as a surprise to me, and we don’t know if it’s another rumour, but according to Daedalus85 at Esato forums, a Nokia representative told him that the upcoming N96 might have a little addition, which is the highly awaited Xenon flash.

I strongly doubt it, especially if the pre-production models have been reviewed and showcased at various exhibitions, and the full specifications have been released.

Xenon flash isn’t the only thing missing, we need a better battery, higher resolution, and few improvements on the camera itself.

Source: Esato forums via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog

Comment and Discuss here

Today  might be the day on which Wordpress is releasing  their new version.  We can stay down a while if we decide to upgrade to this new version, but some plugins and widgets will fail in our blog. So if you see that something is not ok, do not hesitate to contact us.

In the past days we were having also some trouble with our server and blog. Our server was giving some Apache errors and our blog couldn’t be opened in the internet explorer. I think now it is ok, and we want to thank you all for alerting us to this problem, mainly to our reader MonySS. We hope we can give you from now all the best reviews, interviews and information about Nokia N96.

Just to remind you, our number of readers is increasing and now our Alexa Ranking is 922.445. Thank you all for visitng our blog and Happy St Patrick’s Day!

And they keep on coming…Will at IntoMobile has posted tons of pictures comparing the N95 to the N96, and also a video where he plays around with the unseen jewel.

The glossy-black finish hides buttons that illuminate from below…so cool. The sliding mechanism is much improved over the N95 - springy and snappy at the same time, it’s incredibly satisfying. The music controls illuminate upon sliding the N96 down. A kickstand pops out from the rear, making video and TV viewing convenient. Oh yea, and the TV (DVB-H) is smooth and crisp. Overall, the Nokia N96 is slightly (emphasis on slightly) longer than the N95, with about the same width and thickness, but feels lighter and more solid. And, speaking of solid, did I mention that much improved sliding mechanism? If you just bought a Nokia N95, I’m sorry to say that the Nokia N96 is the new hotness. The Nokia N95 is still the cat’s meow, but the N96 gets the lion’s share of the glory. That glossy-black finish might not be your cup of tea, but damn if I didn’t love it.

Source: IntoMobile

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