Nokia's curious semi-absence from the U.S. wireless market
By Brian White 
posted May 7th 2007 9:09PM
posted May 7th 2007 9:09PM
As Nokia's long-awaited N75 clamshell starts hitting AT&T virtual shelves for sale today (finally), the cellphone manufacturer appears to be at a U.S. crossroads. The N75, after all, was supposed to go live in Cingular customers' hands late last year. Come to think of it, where are all the Nokia handsets from top U.S. mobile carriers these days? The N75 delay was allegedly due to "operator testing," leading to an interesting point: Kallasvuo states that Nokia has four customers in the U.S. -- the carriers themselves -- and each has exacting customization demands. Sadly, in these parts, carriers have yet to accept their roles as ISPs to which customers bring their own equipment, forcing carriers to cater not to the actual users of their devices (imagine that!) but to the carriers' whims. Is Nokia headed towards direct sales only in the future? Doubtful, but you never know.
YES!!! carrier direct sales only! The hell with making carriers happy. I feel this is ridiculous! carriers testing devices?!? what the hell is that? don't you think the manufacturers test these devices?
Careless what crap the carriers offer been buying unlocked nokias the past 7yrs. Planning on switch my E61 that I love for the E61i soon ;)
Its been obvious for some time that Nokia is gradually abandoning the US carrier market. And who can blame them, considering the catastrophically inept management at Cingular, and the vicious behavior of Verizon, the company that proudly manages to make Microsoft look benevolent and grandmotherly! Hopefully Nokia is doing well enough in the rest of the world that they can afford to do this. Unfortunately I don't see how they can get much traction in the U.S. selling GSM phone upgrades direct to Cingular and T-Mobile customers. I'm hoping to purchase an unlocked N75 direct, but I'm in a tiny minority. It will be VERY interesting to see what happens with the upcoming E90 - remember it took Cingular about 1-1/2 years of fumbling around to get the 9300 launched! What a bunch of clowns...
Does anyone else think the American market is full of lazy, cheap, and stupid people that would be happier buying from the carrier and not the manufacturer?
I don't understand americans. Why buy cripple carrier phones when U can buy the real deal straight from manufacturers?
I never buy carrier phones. When I buy mobilephone straight from manufacturer I can choose my operator or change it when ever I want.
Kashif, I agree with you totally.
The fact is that the North American market only makes up 10% of the world market and it makes up less than 5% of the smartphone market.
Working with the US carriers is incredibly difficult, time consuming and expensive. Manufacturers are usually on the side of the consumer, trying to produce great and fully featured devices (i.e. the E61), but US carriers are determined to release crippled versions (i.e. the E62).
Sony Ericsson made the decision to virtually abandon the US market and they've been thriving ever since. I doubt Nokia will abandon the US completely, but I doubt they'll bother trying to convince the carriers to take many more of their high-end phones. It's just not ecomonically worthwhile.
I guess in the end, we lose as we don't get any phones that will work with our awkward frequencies.
customer direct sales would be great, but then, you couldnt call the carier to ask for troubleshooting options. You would neet to call the manufacturer. And you know they arent answeing the phone - another thing: if the carrier dosnt officially carry the phone, they arent going to offer you insurence for it, either.
Good in some way, not in all.
@mic 82 the reason alot of us dont buy direct from the company is that going threw a carrier has many $$ benefits for the consumer and you have to understand those of us that read this site are probably 1% of the cell phone market who actually cares about there phone, most people only want to make calls....
nokia has made really bad cell phones since 2000, so nobody in the US wants them. that's probably a good explanation of why they don't manufacture much in the US.
"nokia has made really bad cell phones since 2000, so nobody in the US wants them. that's probably a good explanation of why they don't manufacture much in the US."
Yeah, you're totally right...Crap phones, that's just why they are the biggest mobilephone manufacturer and growing! Jeez, under which rock have you been the last 7 years!!??
The rock called US...