No more N-Series Nokias??

[sp33dbird]

I went into an orange shop yesterday to look into upgrading my handset as i was fedup waiting for orange to release (or even announce the pending release of...) the n82. The manager in the shop told me Orange would not be releasing anymore N Series nokias - ever.

I had heard rumours that they had fallen out with nokia over the music download service, but surely this is a bit extreme. They are starting to make 3look more attractive every day, this will surely increase churn because even though they are often bug ridden the high end nokias are about the only decent phones orange supply.

Can anyone confirm this, or was the manager simply trying to fob me off with one of oranges "own brand" toy handsets to meet his sales targets.

[acoolwelshbloke]

Can't really blame orange! The N series are really bad handsets, they are not made to the usually high standard and are about as stable as iraq!

[9MIL]

When I left Orange just over a year ago, it was rumoured internaly that the handset buget had been cut by X million pounds a year, where X is a large number meaning that the most popular handsets would gradually be removed from the network.

[mobieg]

If there are no more n-series handsets then I would have to leave the network.

[oaklandm]

I know someone who works for orange in one of their departments and they told me a few months ago that orange would not be releasing any more N series nokias.. Things can change i'm sure but not looking good

[seaniboy]

SE will get pushed higher & higher by Orange - Orange Music downloads are a collaboration of the 2 companies, I think Orange underestimate the poularity of Nokia handsets and also based on the problems to do with Nokia software the returns/replacements are high ( nothing to do with Orange firmware at all eh Orange ! )

i-phone has started a new trend, product goes to highest bidder & its a ****e product at that

SE never again, a java based phone - No thanks

[ryanmcallister]

This is clearly rubbish because my manager informed me that she was told at the cascade meeting that theyre bringing out the N78 and N96 at the end of Q2/start of Q3 2008


Orange are not thinking of leaving Nokia N series.

[Planner]

I think you may find that Orange know exactly how many N series phones they have sold.. how many of their customers still have them, howmany have been returned and refurbished etc etc... so i would think they also do know how much it may/may not cost them in customer loyalty..

that being said... their phone line up is starting to look a bit 2nd rate

[9MIL]

Ryan If you get a chance check the handsets in review page on Scholar or whatever it is called these days. Get your team manager to show you how to access the more in depth guides by altering the address slightly in the address bar.

[old bill]

I am due a upgrade soon. The problem is I have a great tariff but Oranges choice of handsets at the moment is very poor and at the moment I cannot think of one handset I would want from Orange.

[mobieg]

I do agree with a few posters on this topic that at the moment there is nothing worth upgrading for.

[xgfx]

I spoke to someone in retentions today, as my contract is up on may 1st. Advised her I am planning to go to O2 due to much better tarrifs and phone selection. When she asked what phones I was looking at I mentioned the N95 8GB and she said they have just started offering it. I asked "the black one, the 8gb?" and she responded yes. I asked her why it wasn't on their site yet, and she said because they'd just started this week.

She advised me to wait til next month so I can have more loyalty discount on the phone/tarrif. Hopefully this is true and they're pulling their pants up otherwise I will be off to O2.

[oaklandm]

The N95 8GB and N82 were released on Orange today but only through Carphonewarhouse and they are generic handsets so no horrible orange software : ) They are not on their website as of yet.

Apparently middle of May these will be available from Orange direct but with the horrible Orange software..

How quickly Orange can change their choices of phones when a new boss arrives : )

[petercf]

It would appear from the call centre staff - who have a much better view on the internals than shops - that there is a general consensus, Orange's handset range is poor, customers always raise the question 'when are the new ones coming' and it is the primary churn inducing factor.

Many people are prepared to benefit from Orange service while suffering poorer tariffs (latter slowly being addressed) but for how long, when all the devices they want are always on another operator.

I believe it will take a fundamental change in direction within Orange before this improves. However, all of the industry press from Orange indicates that they are focusing on self-sourcing (they have their own China based handset office) and have targets for own label handsets that force them to drop the number of major brands they are carrying.

Unfortunately with Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony-Ericsson and Motorola (still there, just) owning 80% of the market that is a very difficult strategy to support.

[ryanmcallister]

Ryan If you get a chance check the handsets in review page on Scholar or whatever it is called these days. Get your team manager to show you how to access the more in depth guides by altering the address slightly in the address bar.

Cool, its called guru now. I dont think u can edit the address bar anymore because its run in javascript. Im pretty sure orange are NOT going to be discontinuing n series handsets, but ill find out tomorrow.

[nextprodigy]

Havent read all the post but if any doubt remains both the N82 and the N95 8GB should be readily in stock in most orange stores. Also, the N96 (due october time i believe) is definately coming to orange upon release (after they fill it with their own junk)