Nokia today quietly initiated sales of the Nokia N9 in the United States. The phone joins the PureView 808 as being a non-Windows Phone being slated for sales in the American market.
After Nokia’s controversial switch to all-Windows Phone models, the company committed to not releasing any non-Windows Phone devices in the United States going forward. That angered many, as it meant the N9, a phone Nokia committed to companies and consumers alike… would not be sold in the world’s largest high-end smartphone market.
Since then, the embattled Nokia has launched three US-targeted Windows Phone models, the Lumia 710, 800, and 900. However, other factors may have driven Nokia’s about-face.
First, is difficulty in taming Windows Phone for some of the market demands. It has been all-but-confirmed by Nokia that the PureView 808’s high-resolution camera could not function properly with today’s Windows Phone platform. The instant-photo requirements of Windows Phone are very rigid, and 41 megapixel capacities likely require extreme resources from the handset. Only a real-time operating system like Symbian, now known as Nokia Belle, can handle such tasks currently.
In pressure from European customers, Nokia’s board pressured CEO Steven Elop to back down and commit to further development in Belle. The company now has charted out Belle devices for at least the next three years. Belle platform development is also being spearheaded by software consulting giant Accenture. Hundreds of Nokia-transferees would likely be terminated in a demise of Belle, a questionable move if Nokia is struggling financially with Windows Phone. As Nokia has said their “Plan B” is for “Plan A” (Windows Phone) to succeed. With MeeGo abandoned, and Belle discontinued, Nokia would be without a Plan C.
Continuing development of Belle will give Nokia an alternative platform for low-to-mid range smartphones, if Windows Phone fails to attach in these environments.
But what does any of that have to do with the Nokia N9 launching, now?
This week, Nokia strategically timed the announcement of a US-bound PureView 808 with the CTIA technology show. It’s not a mistake that the N9 is launching stateside a day after CTIA ended.
With Nokia now admitting it needs to sell non-Windows Phone devices in the United States, in order to have a fighting chance at breaking even with technological investments in PureView superphones, the N9 then becomes okay to sell. Microsoft is not worried about the N9 being a threat to Windows Phone anymore, as the platform is now merely a skunkworks project for Nokia.
In fact, a thriving N9 actually gives more woes for smaller competitors, as it fractures the Tizen and Open webOS marketplaces, trying to be rebooted by Intel/Samsung, and HP, respectively. Still, neither Tizen nor Open webOS are on the market today. Hence, the N9 may become a haven for those looking for a sustainable, open phone environment.
The Nokia N9’s MeeGo-compatible operating system has three things that no operating system on phones today offer. First, it’s a real-time operating system. Second, it has no antitrust-grade restrictions on developer innovations… there are no walled gardens. And third, it’s unlocked to run on any compatible carrier.
It’s unfortunate that no other smartphone in the United States today, meets that criteria. Apple’s iPhone is a real-time operating system, but has a restrictive app store that puts developer innovation at the Orwellian hands of an App Store approval; Apple decides what software can, and can’t run on your computer smartphone. Windows Phone functions on similar terms. Android permits third-party applications being sideloaded in, but is based in a virtualized variant of Java, mired in legal patent wars. Innovative real-time apps such as high-performance software (games, etc), struggle on Android, even when armed with the latest hardware.
With Straight Talk now offering SIM cards that are compatible with both T-Mobile and AT&T 3G/HSPA+ network bands, the pentaband UMTS/HSPA+ on the Nokia N9 actually was designed to shine exclusively in the American market. The N9 was literally built to run in the United States, so it’s a good thing to see Nokia finally selling it here.
Ironically, Steven Elop’s famous “burning platform” memo was written to spur the company towards Windows Phone. All along, even Elop knew that the company did have its answer to the burning-platform-problem: the N9. It was designed to operate on multiple American carriers, with a competitive software platform that could truly have tackled both Apple’s strengths, and Android’s weaknesses.
Certainly there is a niche market for the N9. Gray marketers such as Expansys have been importing the device since shortly before its launch. The question is how much beyond the niche, can the Nokia N9 extend. Sadly, it doesn’t look like very far, in its current state.
Unfortunately, the N9 now exists in a bastardized environment. Nokia is only continuing to support the device for two reasons. One, it made a commitment to customers “for years” of support. And two, Nokia appears to be using the MeeGo Harmattan platform to fuel its “next billion” initiative for smartphones in the developing world.
And, at $599 sticker price at Fry’s Electronics, it’s not clear how many people will sign on. A refurbished iPhone 4S can be found (at times) for hundreds less on daily deal sites.
PhoneNews.com has not reviewed the Nokia N9, as we refused to review the phone in protest of the cancelled US release. We have reached out to Nokia to coordinate a review of the American unit, and will report back with a full review shortly.
it is advertised here: http://www.frys.com/ads/page5
but, 4.3″ SuperAMOLED? Do they have some special US version? 😀 maybe that is the reason for this extremely high price.
anyway, many eshops in USA vere already selling N9s there in US
A search on Fry’s site reveals nothing, except this –
http://www.frys.com/search?search_type=regular&sqxts=1&query_string=nokia+n9&cat=0&submit.x=16&submit.y=5
Glad to see the N9 finally arrive state side which should have been done from day one. Guess Elop suspected that it would hurt the Lumia sales. But he should have worried less about Lumia sales and their bottom line. Also the 808 PureView will do good because of that brilliant camera. Only Symbian could have made it possible, Windows Phone is too limited.
Wish both of them success and help Nokia get out of their current slump and back on top. Maybe we might see more MeeGo devices and more developers too making good apps for it
Excellent analysis Christopher. Glad to see a blogger doing his homework. 😉
I wish this was true. Unfortunately, Nokia still does not sell the N9 in the US. There is still no mention of it on nokia.com in the products section. This is certainly not the first US retailer to offer the N9 either. They have been available on Amazon for quite a while, and I bought my N9 several months ago at another US retailer, Negri, who imported their stock from Malaysia. Their prices were better than the one you show here.
Units sold from Expansys and Amazon have no US warranty, typically. We touched on this.in the original article.
Fry’s units must, for several reasons, but I wouldn’t take the Nokia.com status for much, in either direction.
It is possible that Fry’s pulled off a gray market import, but this is unlikely since Fry’s has always sold unlocked Nokia phones legitimately in the past. Even if it was gray market, the onus would be on Nokia to shut it down… They would still have to honor the US warranty on units walking out of stores today.
As another reader already pointed out, N9 can’t even be found by searching on Frys Web site. Frys having N9 in its flyer can hardly be construed as “Nokia selling N9 in US”. It’s probably a case of Frys sourcing a small shipment of N9s on international market at such low price that it made sense to take the risk and sell it.
Sure, it would be great if Nokia would indeed reverse its megalomaniac course of thinking the company knows best what customers want and selling just a selected few of its products in some of the world’s biggest markets. It’s a mystery to many why Nokia considers it is better to have potential customers to flock to Android and iPhone instead of buying Nokia’s own products like N9 and 808 Pureview. Mr Elop may reveal the answer to this mystery rather sooner than later as he won’t be heading Nokia for too much longer. On the current course of reducing profits (initially) and increasing losses (more recently) that he put the company on Nokia’s cash reserves will dry up by the end of this year.
Perhaps Microsoft should also consider whether, instead of having a VERY BIG Windows Phone body in its hands by the end of the year, it would be better to let Nokia sell all of its devices in all markets.
Unfortunately most analysts however agree that Mr Elop and Microsoft have already so thoroughly ‘Osborned’ Nokia that its demise can no longer be avoided. Mr Elop’s strategic mistakes and soiling of his own nest are quite extraordinary and have no comparison in the recent corporate history. This is why I’m looking forward to reading his memoirs “How I destroyed a leading technology company in less than 2.5 years (and how the board let it happen)”.
What’s really weird is that when I was working for Nokia (2005 to 2008) we were moving AWAY from the “only these devices for these regions” mindset. We even dismantled the timezone organization structure to have more market flexibility. Makes no sense to me why the company retreated from that.
Nokia’s present VP of Sales for North America is a Microsoft ex-patriot. It’s no surprise that he implemented a policy of Windows-only Nokia phones in the United States.
And, that policy made a lot of sense to be honest. Symbian failed here for refusing to attach to CDMA, and not appreciating the US GSM carrier ecosystem. MeeGo being aborted would have created confusion; is the Lumia 900 the halo phone, or the N9? In Europe, this was easier to convey because people over there are accustomed to SIM swapping.
Problem is, Nokia has another burning platform on their hands right now… and the answer to putting it out won’t come until next year, with Windows 8-powered phones. They’re hemorrhaging cash here and have overstocks they need to sell off.
It’s RIM in slow motion. Which is a shame, considering how amazing the N9 is of a phone.
I saw N9 16GB at Fry’s in San Diego last week. It was for $600+, made in China. That was funny surprise for me because I bought mine N9 in Finland for something like 260 euros (tax free), which was about $346. And it is made in Finland.
Nothing new here, this article is misleading….
There’s no official word that they intend to bring the N9 into the local retail channel, & offer local warranty/support.
There’s been suggestions this may be the case for the 808PV though…
It’s been possible to get non-local stock (& no warranty) N9’s in the US/Canada for many months.
These aren’t brought into the country by Nokia, they’re imported from overseas by retailers.
This story tries to suggest that is somehow a new thing….
I wish it were accurate but nothing is sourced, there is no solid proof referenced.
I doubt they would, makes little sense based on seniors management’s idea of how to proceed.
good job. I am waiting to your review of N9 US edition
Gotta love Fry’s.
“Mego OS”
LOL.
Hi! Hope you enjoy the experience of the Nokia n9. Because of its simplicity and elegance it outshines most of its competitors and still become quiet and humble on its own. Hope the Nokia n9 become popular in the US so Nokia would continue developing Meego and have more consumers.
How Nokia can not support the N9 is beyond me. I have bought one on the web and I find the swipe interface fantastic.
To be really nitpicking, battery life could be better, and the PC sync software is so and so. Both things could probably be improved with more development and bugfixing.
Probably Intel could develop all sort of cool gadgets for the N9 and other Meego units, to compete with Motorola’s Lapdock for example, if it had not been booted by Nokia.
Carlo, Intel went with Tizen so I doubt they would do any more MeeGo work.
You guys are all idiots. I found this article while searching for n9 Android. I work at frys, and do contract work for Nokia. N9 is not released in America. Frys has always carried the n9. They’ve carried lots of unlocked international phones. doesn’t matter where you buy your Nikita from. It will be under for a yearwarranty. Idiots
Who you calling idiot arsehole, look at my post…
I called the article into question immediately, as did others.
Guys, Fry’s is an _authorized_ Nokia reseller. They regularly have giant Nokia sections in their phone area. If Fry’s is breaking their contract with Nokia, in order to cater to cater to geeks, that’s something for Nokia and Fry’s to hash out… Not PhoneNews.com.
^What? The story’s bogus anyway….
What Fry’s doing is no different to what other retailers have been doing for the past 6mth+.
There’s no proof Nokia’s bringing N9’s into the US retail channel, & offering local warranty/support.
The story certainly doesn’t provide that proof…
[…] on Friday, Phone News spotted the N9 on Fry’s Electronics weekly flyer. The phone is an unlocked version, and is […]
They should have continued Meego instead of abandoning it for Windows Phone. If Android gets sucked up by the patent wars, then we have another Linux mobile OS. 😀
@Jeff Saying “what” is not a rebuff of my point. Clearly you disagree, but you didn’t address my points, merely talked past them.
If Fry’s is an authorized Nokia reseller (it is), then how are they gray market importing the N9 without breaching their agreement?
Either Fry’s is breaking the rules (doubtful), or they got permission from Nokia (likely).
If they got permission from Nokia, than the story is accurate. If Fry’s is egregiously breaking the rules, then I’m sure Nokia will smack them for doing so. Either way, good post!
[…] Permalink Phone News | Fry’s | Email this | Comments […]
“but you didn’t address my points, merely talked past them.”
No, I didn’t, that’s how you interpreted it…
This addresses them:
“There’s no proof Nokia’s bringing N9?s into the US retail channel, & offering local warranty/support.
The story certainly doesn’t provide that proof…”
I just didn’t care to go into more detail, as that’s all that needed to be said really.
So they alone have a special agreement to distribute “US N9’s” that allow US Nokia support/warranty?
So how come we have no official confirmation of that from Fry’s or Nokia?
That’s a big shift and one end-users would need to be made aware of!
Lets wait a few more weeks and see what happens at talk.maemo.org.
What’s the bet we’ll get users complaining they bought a N9 from Fry’s because they read that story which said it’s local stock, but that Nokia US isn’t supporting them.
Even if it is correct….
If it’s only Fry’s that’s not a coup, that’s severely restricting availability & competitive pricing in the retail channel.
For those that care about local stock & hence local support/warranty, which is most unlocked phone buyers.
Like I said, the burden of proof is on the person making the claims in the article.
So far there’s no proof that official/local stock’s being brought into the US retail channel by Nokia.
Just assumptions/assertions that one agreement with (or breach by) Fry’s = equals that.
“So far there’s no proof that official/local stock’s being brought into the US retail channel by Nokia.”
At least in any way that constitutes an intention by Nokia, to make it as aggressively/readily available in the retail channel as the Lumias.
[…] Permalink Phone News | Fry’s | Email this | Comments […]
“So far there’s no proof that official/local stock’s being brought into the US retail channel by Nokia.”
And even if the intent wasn’t to assert wide-ranging availability, but rather a more exclusive arrangement with Fry’s.
The article should at least clarify that phonenews has no proof that such an official agreement exists.
It could exist, or it could merely be an in/advertent breach…..
Plus the article should clarify that being officially available w/ONLY Fry’s, still constitutes very restricted availability/pricing.
And in reality, not much of a shift from the status quo… sadly….
[…] Permalink Phone News | Fry’s | Email this | Comments […]
Delighted to have an original unlocked nokia n9 for 429 euros in Spanish (original unlocked iphone was about 900 euros last time I checked). I also got the Nokia MD-50W, speaker NFC Play 360 and it is so comfortable…
^Yeah it’s okay for people in the EU….
Even if the N9 didn’t come to your country (it didn’t come to Spain officially)…
EU regulations require that warranty must be upheld EU-wide, even if that make/model isn’t officially available in your country.
That’s not a bad price, especially since it’s not officially available in Spain, is that for the 64GB N9?
[…] Permalink Phone News | Fry’s | Email this | Comments […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports аrе adage thаt carriers аnd Nokia’s board аrе becoming restless wіth WP7, аnd thеу аrе pushing fοr alternatives tο WP7, tο ѕlοw down thе qυісk decline οf thе company, аnd thе consumer rejection οf WP7 smartphones. It seems thаt WP7 mіght hаνе bееn another critical mistake fοr Nokia аnd thіѕ time іt mіght bе аn endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports аrе saying thаt carriers аnԁ Nokia’s board аrе becoming restless wіth WP7, аnԁ thеу аrе approaching fοr alternatives tο WP7, tο ѕƖοw down thе qυісk decline οf thе company, аnԁ thе consumer rejection οf WP7 smartphones. It seems thаt WP7 mіɡht hаνе bееn another critical mistake fοr Nokia аnԁ thіѕ time іt mіɡht bе аn endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer… […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports аrе saying thаt carriers аnԁ Nokia’s board аrе becoming restless wіth WP7, аnԁ thеу аrе pushing fοr alternatives tο WP7, tο ѕƖοw down thе fаѕt decline οf thе company, аnԁ thе consumer rejection οf WP7 smartphones. It seems thаt WP7 mіɡht hаνе bееn another critical mistake fοr Nokia аnԁ thіѕ time іt mіɡht bе аn endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for alternatives to WP7, to slow down the fast decline of the company, and the consumer rejection of WP7 smartphones. It seems that WP7 might have been another critical mistake for Nokia and this time it might be an endgame scenario. […]
[…] Reports are saying that carriers and Nokia’s board are becoming restless with WP7, and they are pushing for […]
Hi ppl, check out nokia usa webpage under business phones you will be surprised to see the N9 there 🙂
anyways elop wont admit it but meego is here to stay.
@Shaq
You had me excited for a minute there, bad sadly your claim is not correct.
I checked the site & there’s no business section, it’s not even in the “all phones” section.
I suggest you take another look for yourself:
http://www.nokia.com/us-en/
Cheers.
Actually you’re right it is there, but it’s hidden away.
“Business” isn’t even in the “Products” drop-down menu.
You have to click on “Products” which takes you to:
http://www.nokia.com/us-en/products/products/
In that section it highlights “All phones” by default.
But STILL in that section the N9 isn’t mentioned at all.
You have click on “Nokia for business” next to “All phones” & that takes you to:
http://www.nokia.com/us-en/products/nokia-for-business/
Then on that page, tucked below Lumia & Belle, is a heading for the N9.
They really are doing their best to keep it low-key aren’t they, quite sad.
@Jeff
sorry to disappoint but here is the link your looking for 🙂
http://www.nokia.com/us-en/products/nokia-for-business/
cant wait for my N9 too arrive tomorrow…