N96 on Orange

[bjh_101]

Hiya All!!

It's been a while without being on here. A lot has happened to me since I was last here. I finished my degree and spent quite a long time trying to find a job. I've been working in London for the last 3 months, and enjoying. I hope everyone else is OK.

I saw the N96 news the other week and immediately thought that that is likely to be my next phone. I was starting to debate about the N82 or N95 8GB because there seemed to be no new ones in sight, and i'm already due for my upgrade. Orange of course don't have either of these 2 at the moment anyway. I had a phone call from Orange's loyalty team yesterday because I am "such a good customer" but I decided not to take anything and wait. Other options I like the look of are any of the new HTC's, however the camera's really put me off.

So I thought that it wouldn't be the same waiting for a new phone unless there was a post on 3g.co.uk about it on Orange ;) so here we are! I think I will be sticking with Orange (again), even though I did have a bit of a run in with them a couple of months ago (I think I will save that for another post...)

Orange of course have a history of saying there is no way they will ever get a phone, and then turning around and being the first to market with it, and then witholding it from existing customers. There is also the old Homescreen debate (which I see has now made it onto the newer N95's from Orange.) So to kick things off:

When is the N96 going to be released on Orange (upgrade of course)? Will it even be released?

[olly_g]

Yes I check back here prior to ever upgrade, the n95 has served me well but I am also after an n96. I have a connection within orange that tells me this is coming to orange but they are in the early stages of meeting with nokia reps. Customer service are telling everyone the usual that they wont be getting it, suprise, suprise! will see if I can badger them for a possible release date.

[kiwi]

this would be fantastic if you could find out through your sources as my contract is due up soon (May) and i will be changing provider to get the n96. This will be the best phone on the market as long as nokia have sorted out the slider problem

[olly_g]

Hey guys,

Looks like it will be June when its on orange, obviously this is no garentee but my contact seemed fairly sure on this, so not long, will update you with any other info next week.

[kiwi]

Brilliant, thanks for finding out about June. Cheers

[kiwi]

Hi, Any further forward news of orange date of release????

[DeniseR]

Hi BJH, congrats on the degree and job. Long time no see eh lol

Looking forward to this phone. Having had the N80 which I loved. Orange never dropped the price of the N95 so I missed this model. My mum has one though (and she is 71..... no barrs on technology lol)

This thread feels like deja vu........N80...........N95............now N96

I can't wait for this. I just hope orange don't charge the earth for it though. They don't seem to like the N series and tend to over price it compared to other networks.

[ajax103]

Question is though, will they disable the VOIP like they did on the N95?

[olly_g]

I cant imagine why phone companies would allow VOIP on their phones, surely this enables free calling providing you have a good data package?

The N82 looks tempting, the specs seem quite reasonable.

I should have some more info on the n96 come next week as I will be seeing my contact, will keep you guys updated.

[DeniseR]

I should have some more info on the n96 come next week as I will be seeing my contact, will keep you guys updated.

Great news, this is exciting

[olly_g]

Bad news guys, sounds like we could be waiting till october, although it is being kept very secret by orange execs!

Their excuse was because of the soon to be released n95 8 gig and the n82 on orange

[kiwi]

Oh no, this is indeed bad news. Well my contract is up now so it will be off to O2 when they get it. O2 is cheaper on data use anyway.
This is a sad dAY:tired:
What this will be is the fact that
1.Orange don't understand the n-series
2. They will have a lot of n95 8gb to get rid of first.

Why don't they wake up and realise what people want and will eventually get elsewhere. Orange are always 2 steps behind the rest with new phones
yours
Annoyed


ps thanks for busting a gut olly to find out this news. Much appreciated.
PPS carphone warehouse will start selling them £199 on £35+ O2 contract in August
PPPS Why do orange require their own software installed on each phone.?????

[kiwi]

Dear all, Well I couldn't wait any longer so have now got a new orange contract with the N95 8gb. This is the interesting bit. Orange website said that the 8gb model supported micro sd slot up to 2 gb. Well if you go on any site concerning the 8gb it says that the phone does NOT have a slot. Well i've been going crazy - rang orange and they said it does - operator over the phone mind you.
Anyway -just seen a site where the yanks are now getting the north american version which DOES have the slot.
It arrives on tuesday so i will advise you all then.
Take it easy

[olly_g]

Well I have had a moment of clarity, everything I hate about my current n95 isn’t going to get much better with the n96.l I have decided to go back to basics with my phone and go for style, battery life, speed of software, size and build quality, at first I was going to go all the way back to a 8850, but thought thats just taking it to far but have decided on a 6500 classic, apart from the rubbish camera it seems to answer all my requirements, obviously theres other model phones but I am staying with nokia!

Surely theres other people that feel like this or am I just going mad :) ??

[bjh_101]

Your not the only one. Don't get me wrong, I love the N95, and it basically does everything I want. However the N96 adds nothing new for me, but takes away stuff like the camera shutter.

From my phone useage since getting the N80 over 2 years ago, it is deffinately the camera that is the most important aspect for me. There are no real upgrades in this department this time around.

I am therefore thinking of changing direction a bit and trying out Windows Mobile (I have always discounted HTC because of the cameras) but the Samsung i900 is looking very attractive in terms of a replacement (rather than upgrade) to the N95. Then maybe by this time next year there will be a suitable upgrade, ideally back to Nokia with their touchscreen symbian device and a very high qualtiy camera to truely rival some stand alones.

[chillo]

Had a similiar probs when deciding on a new phone, n82 fits the bill!

[olly_g]

I still havent upgraded and spotted the n82 the other day,looks like a really good phone, camera and battery life getting some really good reviews and its number 1 over at GSM arena.

HTC dieamond touch might also be worth a look ??

[Marwood]

I know it's been a while now........
Hope everyone is ok. :)

Well I've been hanging on to my N95 resisting the temptation to go 8Gig, waiting for the N96. However, since the back of my second N95 is being held on by tape, I really fancy a change right now. (Incidentally, I have only pestered Orange once for a replacement N95 after I bust the screen during a swivel chair inccident at work.......not bad for me!).

Strangely, BJ I had been looking into the Diamond but I too was put off by the camera. This too has become an important factor for me as I have taken some great snaps of my son using the N95. Having a reasonable camera with me all the time by virtue of the fact it is on my phone has been really handy. I have just bought a Fujifilm Z100FD but I know I wont be carting it around all day every day.

Hence, the Samsung i900 looks interesting. Being a bit out of touch, it was only when I read this thread today (I have been lurking for a while now) that I checked it out. I'm not a masive fan of touchscreens as I have fat fingers and the one I had before my N80 (s) kept ringing people when in my pocket. I prefer the look of the Diamond, the fact it has an intergrated stylus (just in case!) and it's slightly smaller dimensions. However, GSMArena's early review did not suggest the camera was up to much.

A call to Orange CS confirmed the website's indication that the Diamond is 'coming soon' but the CS rep had no date for release. The Samsung is not yet listed so no news there. EDIT: Wonder how long it will take for it to surface.....August?

I really fancied the N96 but as has been said, perhaps it isn't a major leap forward from the N95and it ain't gonna be out for a while yet anyway.

DeniseR, hope you are well and everything is OK. Can't read your PM cos the feature has been disabled. My appologies for that.
M

[Speedbird800]

Just wait, the fact is, if you upgrade before the N96 comes out you will kick yourself. You'd be better off waiting for the N96 to at least hit the market. Regardless of the network it is on. Once it is released you can go into CPW and have a play around with it. Once you have had a chance to play around with it, only then will be able to make the right choice.

Nearly everyone who I know who wanted the N95 who upgraded before it was finally released due to the fact that they got fed up waiting for it, regretted not waiting for it. They all wished they had it. Trust me, not matter how much these other phones tempt you. Just wait until the one that you really want is on the market then you can make a true informed choice.

I've worked in the Mobile insdustry for 17 years and I've seen phones come and go. The longer you wait the better off you will be!!!!!

[chris_1d]

N96 release date has moved from August to October on Carphone Warehouse website...

[Marwood]

speedbird800,
That is a very fair point. :) It is only really when you have had chance to try something that you can make an informed decision. This applies to 'electrical goods', women and chemical stimulants too!
The only problem is that I did wait for the N95 after the N80 and the jump between the two phones, in reliability alone, was big enough to justify the wait. In the case of the N96 the jump from the N95 isn't likely to be as big.
There are definately times when I have been glad I waited and held off sighning a new contract for a phone I thought I wanted however as BJ101 suggested in the short to medium term we are looking for an N96 'replacement' not 'upgrade'. I have been hanging on for a while now and am well over my contract period, I could have changed months ago.
Waiting could prove a sensible move but the speed of the development of all technology these days means you will always be playing catch up after only a short period of time.
October (thanks Chris 1d) is a mile off and I accept I could regrette moving away from Nokia, however it might be better to have a 'little holiday' with the i900 (looks alot of fun and is asthetically quite nice. I was very taken by the look of the F480 in my local Orange shop, must admit I'm feeling a growing wave of 'slider backlash') and see how the Nokia 'Tube' pans out........however If I've read the proposed spec of this touchscreen phone right it's camera will only be around 3meg.
I just get the feeling that the market is shifting towards touchscreens and Nokia are having to play catch up. Not that this is a problem but I tried out an iTouch (not the phone) last week in Liverpool and it really set my pulse racing. The N80 and N95 did the same. The thought of the N96, even if it came out today leaves me cold, I'm sad to say.
Indeed Speedbird you are right. Thank goodness the N96 was 'delayed' and I ended up waiting, I might have ended up disappointed. I'm not sure the N96 is the phone I "really want" anymore. Sob Sob!
http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=81049 A link if you feel the same way and are considering jumping ship!
M:)

[Speedbird800]

Marwood,

Thanks for your reply. What I would really like to see from Nokia is a Dual phone. i.e Touch screen on oneside and buttons on the other. I would also like to see a 10meg camera on a Nokia. Your right at the moment Nokia are going to be playing catch up! Not only on touch screens but also on the camera's. A 8meg cam is out already on a phone. Now Nokia need to leap frog and launch a 10meg Camera.

Not matter how much you try and get away from Nokia's I always end up coming back to them. A bit like Paper really! No matter how much you try and ditch paper for a computer. You still find that paper plays a part somewhere!

irritated by Nokia for Delaying the Flagship phone. However I will wait and Wait and wait!!!!

[olly_g]

well what can I say, nokia just seems to be a constant let down, so I have crossed over to the darkside that is sony, went for the c902 based on the following, camera, battery life, size and software quickness. Looks to fill all of these requirments for me and the menus dont really differ from nokia and its a really cool looking phone, I was debating the n82, but it just looks to brick like compared to the sony, oh well nokia maybe next time.

Bring on the flaming!! lol

[bjh_101]

An update on the N96 on Orange.
I spoke to them last week, and the person seemed very helpful and spent a bit of time looking into the phones I listed.

The Samsung i900 is on their systems and is expected in 1-2months. My experience with Orange means I will guess it will be end of August.

They haven't heard of the i8510.

The N96 is interesting on the other hand. Apparently they have had it in tested and have been very dissapointed with it. They are probably looking at around Christmas, if at all. What I like so much about waiting for new phones (which I don't seem to be getting with the Samsungs - the i900 has passed it's test all too easily, and the i8510 might be the same) is the fact that Orange claim that any new N-series has failed the tests, and they will never get another one ever again because of all the returns on the previous high end on (think N80, Marwood!) The uncertainty is so exciting in a strange way.

Again, reading into what Orange actually say in the past, and following the information posted in the news article about a 1st October release I will estimate that Orange will indeed suprise us all and have it released in the first week of October. Just a shame I won't be getting it.

[pio5ukuk]

what price will the n96 upgrade be? i paid 40 quid when the n95 first came out