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Nokia have today announed that they are starting shipping the N96, with an estimated retail price of €550, before taxes or subsidies.
And if you want to see what you get in the box…
Despite having pre-launched the phone back in what seems like the stone ages (well earlier this year), Nokia have now released an official update on the device, which they say will be expected in the fourth quarter of 2008 (so from October).
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Gigaom report that Nokia are ceasing support for the N Series range of mobiles, the N96 amoungst the phones effected. Dig a little deeper however and it appears that what Nokia are doing is stopping bundling the VoIP client in the N96 package.
Possibly this is in response to pressure from carriers, who “give” the phones away for free and do not want to see users getting calls for free from the bundled wi-fi. Possibly, as some commentors say, it is because third party providers can do a better job of writing applications than Nokia can.
In clarification, Nokia have stated that the N96 will be VoIP compatible, but it will require additional software to get there, and existing providers, such as Truphone, are already working on a solution.
There has been speculation as to whether Nokia would include N-Gage compatability when the N96 is launched, particularly as the N-Gage website was showing the N96 as non supported.
The recent application to the FCC included the draft user guide for the N96, which includes a section on how to connect to N-Gage, as shown above.
There is still nothing new on the N-Gage website however, but then until the N96 is launched, it would not be logical to add N96 downloads. (But then not much about the gearing up for th N96 launch has been logical!)
There are rumours abound that the N96 will be launched in the UK on 1 October.
I can find no official release from Nokia as yet, but this date seems as likely as any other, but dissapointing for those who were expecting the new N-Series phone today.
Want one of the first Nokia N96 phones?
Nokia have today launched a site at Face the Task where you can bid to have one of the first 96 N96 phones, as soon as they are available in your country.
Head on over, and you might, just might be one of the lucky ones!
There is also the chance to donate to WWF to protect Nepalese Pandas, and in return you get
