Products & Services
Unlocking the possibilities
By JBC on 03 August 2009
GLOBAL – Nokia has been working hard with carriers in the US to bring new offerings to US-based consumers. Recently we saw the Surge (which Engadget’s Darren Murph quite liked) roll out on AT&T. But what of the many devices Nokia produces that aren’t carried by networks in the US, for whatever reason? Plenty are available (at varying times, compared to Europe) direct either from Nokia USA or through retailers. Nothing strange in this idea, save for the fact that for many based in the USA, buying an unlocked device is almost unheard of. So much so, the folks at Nokia USA have put together a video explaining what it’s all about.
When Symbian Guru discovered the vid on Nokia USA’s site he reckoned it was five years late. However, it’s there and for US customers should prove a useful tool in understanding the potential they have when choosing their next device. Given that the video goes into a basic explanation of what a SIM card is, the video isn’t designed with those already very familiar with mobile devices. However, if you’re based in the US, and need an easy way to explain someone’s options for their next device, you’d do a lot worse than pointing them at this vid.
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Tags | Nokia 6760 Slide, Nokia Surge, Unlocked, usa
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
The “unlocked” video is definitely good, in fact I think, though siding a little with Symbian-guru it is a tad late, but better late than never. I think there is a benefit of putting this ad online, but their should be a TV/Radio campaign. The concern that I have, as I wish to see Nokia become well liked and established in the US, is will a TV/Radio campaign about unlocked phones negatively impact Nokia’s relationship with US carriers? Absent that, I actually see a unique strategy that Nokia could jump on, that is the exclusivity concerns the FCC has with ATT and Apple. In fact I think the FCC investigation creates an opportunity for Nokia to begin a large campaign explaining the power of Unlocked phones over carrier exclusive deals. Even highlighting the savings that unlocked phones bring with lower monthly costs for data plans (that may be an ATT only thing). I think a viral campaign of posting the above video in various forums (i.e. identi.ca, twitter, facebook, etc) could help build a strong fall campaign to go unlocked on TV/radio. This could give Nokia the leg up they need in the US market. Something to think about. In short I think a TV/Radio campaign is needed one way or the other.
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August 3rd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Well, it is odd to me as an European to look at the (so called) most evolved people (the Americans) and realise that they are behind us on this area.
Here in Portugal, we’ve had unlocked phones since ever, and the contract phones are no more than “Locked to service provider” phones.
Ex: We buy a new 5800 unlocked at 320€ (at Nokia store), or locked to a service provider like Optimus at 229€. If we buy it on Optimus, we’ll save almost 100€, and we can put any Optimus SimCard on it, and the SimCard can be pre-charged or post-payed (contract). That’s totally our choice, and we have only the obligation to continue using that service provider for 2 years, but we’re allowed to change number/phone.
The first time i saw this type of contracts was when the Iphone was released in here, when service providers charged a price and attached a contract to make it cheap. (it wasn’t cheap, neither the contracts where cheap).
This type of contracts are an insult to our intelligence, and in my opinion, it’s a stupid move from service providers..
But still, i’m not worried.. untill now, it was only applied for the Iphone, and honestly, i don’t give a dam..
Another thing that i can’t understand is why American service providers “make the market”. Why AT&T has such power in the US? And why must AT&T use direfent frequencies than other carriers? It’s too hard for me to understand it, but only if i think there’s no “dirty move” behind it..
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August 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
@Nuno Pereira, I’ll try to answer some of your questions, the first thing I’d say is that AT&T has such power in the US because Cell providing is only one industry they par-take in, that is they also provide Cable TV service, Internet Access and Land line telephone services. You’ll begin hearing about Comcast (another cable provider) enter into the cell phone industry. Now the reason this happens is really because here in the US we lack regulatory power over industries. That is as a citizen I have very little recourse to actually request federal regulators to investigate and enforce policies. What does not help is really for the past 8 and really the past 30 years, political leaders have selected industry leaders to run the regulating arms of the federal government. With that and the push to deregulate everything that the government used to regulate led to so-called free market, which actually fails to achieve what capitalism says it will, that is the best product, instead we have the most profiting companies. AT&T and T-Mobile are the only two cell phone providers that utilize GSM technology (Sprint and Verizon rely on CDMA), but Tmobile is not powerful in the states mostly cause they do not have the same capital as AT&T and focus just on Cell services. Verizon and Sprint are also large conglomerates that own their frequencies, note that Google recently purchase the rights to a new frequency level here in the states, so they too will be entering the cell phone services. I imagine the headache is getting worse, so here in the US we have political leaders that think the markets should determine everything. I completely agree with you that it is insulting that AT&T and Verizon have such power to determine what devices should be sold, but they cut deals with the cell phone makers and eventually make a fortunate off of requiring a 2 year contract with a discounted phone. Not sure how the Iphone release went for you in Protugal, but here AT&T & Apple require you have a data plan, and it has to a data plan that costs $30 on top of your minutes plan.
I’ll wrap up and say that my AT&T contract finally ends this month, which means I can take my E63 where ever or just go with a prepaid service, or even link up with Gizmo5 or Truphone. Hope this helps shed some light on the topic. Unlocked is certainly the way to go, I learned that the hard way.
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Nuno Pereira Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
@Stephen, that helped me alot to understand it! No doubts in here anymore
About the success of the Iphone here in Portugal, with a bit of embarassement, i must say we Portuguese people give to much importance to marketing, and Apple has got it all. The Iphone sold like hell in here, but most of the ones who bought the first regret the decision (we all know why). With the new one, things are diferent.. some say it’s a good phone, and it justifies the price. (i don’t agree, but that’s just my opinion).
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August 4th, 2009 at 6:45 am
@Nuno Pereira
Another thing to keep in mind is how the wireless industry evolved in the US vs how it evolved in Europe. In Europe, it became evident very early on that a standard was needed that would work between the various countries there. It was close to useless to have a phone that would work in France but not Spain, England or Italy. The amount of traveling that is down between countries is what led to the GSM standard in the first place.
Due in large part to the size of the US, the average American does much less international traveling than the average European. Thus, there was no immediate need for American cell providers to take that into consideration (at the time, mobile phones were really seen as extensions of the home phone). That is what has allowed CDMA providers to remain relevant.
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August 4th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
As Stephen wrote, the American mobile market is a mess.
We have 2 CDMA carriers (Verizon, and Sprint). As far as I know, there is no way to unlock a phone purchased at Verizon and utilize it at Sprint. (Or the reverse)
T-Mobile and at&t are the only two GSM providers. At least, that provides some small benefit to an unlocked phone. You should be able to use an unlocked phone on either network – assuming you have a SIM card.
That is another thing that is different here in the US than other places. I’ve been in other countries where you can stop at the convenience store and just buy a SIM card. I assume that means that consumers are used to doing just that. Here in the US, you only get a SIM card when you buy your new phone – there aren’t any stores that sell just SIM cards – you have to get a SIM card *in a phone*.
But, getting back to the “benefits” of an unlocked GSM phone in the US. Another strange thing happened here in the US. T-mobile was not able to get any of the same frequencies used for HSDPA that are used by at&t. So, even though we have unlocked phones and two carriers to choose from, using an unlocked phone means that on one of those carriers, you’re limited to EDGE speeds. (at&t uses 850/1900 and t-mobile uses 1700/2100)
I would really be excited if Nokia ever offered an unlocked phone that had all four of those bands available. Right now, when a North American version is made, it only has 850/1900 which means you can only fully utilize it on at&t.
That sort of limits the utility of the phone being unlocked.
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