5800 sells 500,000 in 30 days, UK launch tomorrow

[Rafe]

During a conference call discussing of Q4 results Nokia's CEO, Olli Pekka Kallasvuo mentioned that in the last 30 days of the quarter Nokia had shipped slightly more than half a million Nokia 5800 handsets. During this period the 5800 was only available in limited markets. It is currently being rolled out into other markets. Tomorrow it is the run of the UK, the device also known as 'Tube' will be available from the Regent Street Nokia flagship store from 8am. Read on for more including our PDF download.

Read on in the full article.

[Tzer2]

Interesting to note in Nokia's financial report today that they suspect large quantities of their phones are being bought in one country but sold in another, due to the massive fluctuations in the value of the Euro and other currencies.

As the 5800 costs an astonishing 30% less in the UK than the Eurozone, I think we can see what Nokia means.

There's absolutely no legal restriction on companies within the EU selling across member state borders, so a UK retailer could sell the 5800 for bargain prices in the Eurozone (and the phone's guarantee would still be valid too as it covers the whole European Union).

[seki]

While the 5800 hasn't been sold in the UK that certainly doesn't stop you or anyone from buying it online from say HongKong - even with shipping charges you still do quite well out of it.
I could see there would be a nice little market in drop-shipped 5800's

Isn't it sad that "We shipped approximately 8 million Nokia Nseries and over 3 million Nokia Eseries devices during the fourth quarter 2008." represents a relative failure, and that 113Million handsets over all is a significant drop. Just be thankful Nokia that you have most of the markets covered .. oh except the US and Japan <smile> .. 2009 maybe a tough year for some but at least Nokia have China to sell to.

[Tzer2]

Just be thankful Nokia that you have most of the markets covered .. oh except the US and Japan

The Japanese market isn't really a realistic one for any foreign phone manufacturer. Only 5% of all handsets in Japan are foreign, the rest are from Japanese companies and only work in Japan. (More info here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7752279.stm )

Part of the problem is that Japan uses some weird phone standards that no one else does, even their version of Symbian (MOAP) is totally different and Japanese-only. It's a very closed market, sort of harks back to the days of the shoguns really.

While the 5800 hasn't been sold in the UK that certainly doesn't stop you or anyone from buying it online from say HongKong - even with shipping charges you still do quite well out of it.

Erm... I think you're missing the point... if the UK price is by far the cheapest, why on earth would you want to buy it anywhere else?

The Regent store has had the 5800, albeit at £400, since October.

i think "shipped" does not necessarily mean sold, right?

but then, that is still impressive...

One online jersey retailer has the unlocked 5800 for £239, available for pre-order now, in stock 28th Jan.

The same retailer has droppepd the price of unlocked N85 by £50 since christmas. Now £349.99

[capitaine]

they arent supplying the 8Gb card with these!! I just bought one and it doesnt have one...

capitaine: isn't it in the phone already? Mine was inside (while usually it is packed separately).

A pity there's not many handsets sold with 3D hardware acceleration during 2008 by Nokia, compared with the 13.7m iPhones...

[Hooligooner]

[irony]Glad to see the BBC website has got away from it's Apple fan-boy status for an objective and in-depth look at this phone.[/irony]

I managed to be one of the first hundred at Regent St this morning. One thing I spotted on my new 5800 is that it's got BBC iPlayer pre-installed - I'm not sure that had been announced before now, but it's a welcome addition.

[capitaine]

ah Renegade, you're right Thats great.

[irony]Glad to see the BBC website has got away from it's Apple fan-boy status for an objective and in-depth look at this phone.[/irony]

Hahaha!

You are so right. Look at the BBC News front page and you'll see this:

"Mac turns 25: Apple's first Macintosh computer celebrates 25 years"

FFS!

Probably for the best though. I really wouldn't want to get anyone's hopes up with the 5800. Although they shouldn't, non-techy users and reviewers are instantly going to compare it with the iPhone and point out that (a) the OS is much less simple, (b) the touch isn't as responsive, (c) it's jerkier when scrolling and (d) can't zoom in and out with 2 fingers as nicely. (ie all the superficial cobblers Apple use to shine up an otherwise average smartphone). Mark my words.

Hahaha.

Click "technology" on the BBC website and you get:

"Nokia's N5800 touch screen phone launches - is it an iPhone beater?"

Just like I said.

Unbelievable.