Nokia Nuron - the 5230 for T-Mobile USA

Published by Rafe Blandford at 11:25 UTC, March 3rd 2010

Nokia and T-Mobile USA today announced the forthcoming availability of the Nokia Nuron. The Nuron is a T-Mobile customised version of the Nokia 5230 and is termed a 'smartphone for the masses'. It operates on T-Mobile's 3G network and will come pre-loaded with Ovi Store (including operator billing) and Ovi Maps (including worldwide free navigation). It will be one of the cheapest smartphones available in the US market.

Pricing has not been officially announced, but is expected to come in at around $70 on contract (effectively from free via third party retailers) or $180 as the handset only. The Nuron runs S60 5th Edition (Symbian^1) and key features include a 3.2" touchscreen, 2.0 megapixel camera, A-GPS, and 3.5mm audio jack.

It will be the first carrier-supported Nokia phone to be pre-loaded with Ovi Maps and will ship with the free Navigation version of the software (worldwide free car and pedestrian navigation with traffic information, travel guides, weather information and Facebook integration). Maps for the US, Mexico and Canada will be pre-loaded on the device, which will minimise data transfers and enables offline (i.e. no connection needed) routing and navigation.

Nokia Nuron

The Nuron will be an important phone for Nokia in the USA. where they have, in recent years, struggled to place their smartphones in US carriers device line-ups. Significantly, T-Mobile is accepting two of Nokia's key service solutions - Ovi Store and Ovi Maps. Previously the carriers have typically removed Nokia services from the handset during the customisation process (e.g. Nokia Messaging's absence from the E71x).

Moreover, the Nuron's pricing opens up smartphone functionality to a wider audience. It plays into Nokia's current strengths in the mid and low tier smartphone market. In the US, smartphones and their associated functionality are traditionally seen as high end products (iPhone, Palm Pre, Motorola Droid), but Nokia has driven its recent market share gains by shipping lower end smartphones like the Nokia 5800 and 5530. The Nuron offers the major portion of the functionality of the higher end devices for a much lower cost. Thus the Nuron is likely to appeal to a different set of customers than those looking at the iPhone and Android handsets and, consequently, may put Nokia on the road to improved marketshare and awareness in the US.

Similarly, for Symbian, it is important to be able to point to a device shipping in US developer's home market. The inclusion of Ovi Store and operator billing means that there will also be a significant distribution channel, which has sometimes been regarded as an area of weakness for Symbian in the past.

The 5230 is currently shipping in various markets, including the UK where it is available from £79 PAYG ($120).

From the press release:

"The Nokia 5230 Nuron is a great product of our collaboration with T-Mobile USA and provides consumers with more compelling mobile experiences as they navigate, watch video, play games and social network," said Mark Slater, Vice President, Sales, Nokia. "The Nokia Nuron offers U.S. consumers a unique and compelling mobile experience that caters to their everyday needs and enables them to connect to their passions with an affordable 3G touch smartphone."

"Many of our customers are looking for smartphones that deliver a great mobile Web experience with access to games and applications, all at an affordable price," said Travis Warren, director, product marketing, T-Mobile USA. "We are excited to partner with Nokia to offer our customers the Nokia 5230 Nuron, a 3G smartphone for the masses that delivers features like a full touch screen, free turn-by-turn navigation and a premium storefront for applications."

Further information is available on the Nokia USA website, and our original 5230 announcement story.

We'll have more content and coverage around the Nuron / Nokia 5230 very shortly.

Rafe Blandford, AAS


 

Filed: Home > News > Nokia Nuron - the 5230 for T-Mobile USA

Platforms: S60 5th Edition

Categories: Hardware, Editorial Thoughts

News Discussion

Insane Reindeer
Well that seems like a good start. Give people an easy and cheap way into the world of Ovi. The store and the maps inclusion means that, at least at this price point T-Mobile USA seem to have woken up to the fact that they are good things to have on the phone!

But is T-Mobile's 3G coverage any good? Do they suffer from the same problems that blight AT&T's offering?
Unregistered
This is an excellent move from Nokia, well done. Consumers in the US will increasingly realise that the only reason they are buying iPhones or Androids are for hype and fashion alone - and that they are paying WAY more for that hype and fashion. Of course, people will continue to do so.

But no longer will US consumers be unaware of Nokia's smartphone offerings, or able to claim that Android or iPhone are superior in some way (apart from a fractionally more responsive UI). Indeed this will show that Symbian is a considerably superior mobile OS to it's competitors in many ways. Ovi Store inclusion answers the needs of those seeking apps, and the complaints of developers that they don't have a good route to market (1.5 million downloads a day now, that's well over half a billion a year if growth remained flat!). Ovi Maps Nav simply makes Google Maps Nav look like something of a joke, and blows away all other solutions.

And this isn't even a Symbian^3 handset. When they are released in the States, iPhone and Android are going to get hammered big time, no matter what slight improvements they come out with over the year...
limestone
Does "Nuron" rhyme with "Moron" ?
A Conversation with the Nokia design team... (a few months ago in Espo)
Designers: "Hey guys I got this really great idea for a phone for T Mobile in the USA!"
Marketing: "Oh great, tell us about it."
Designers: "Ok first , you take a Nokia 5800, and you make it grey."
Marketing: "Yeah, and?"
Designers: "No , that's it. you make it grey....."

Designers: "Oh and the fact that the buttons on the bottom are colored the same as an Italian flag should appeal to all the mafia types that hang out in New Jersey - Bada Bing!"

End of design meeting.
clonmult
I'm now 2 weeks into ownership of the 5230, and overall its possibly the best phone/media device I've ever owned. Previously had N95, N85, video iPod, iPod Touch.

Made the first use of the satnav in anger this morning, and it was absolutely perfect. Better than TomTom or Sygic on earlier Nokias, definitely better than the Navman I owned for a while. Just need a decent car cradle - I hope it'll fit in a cradle designed for the 5800.

Video playback is great (as long you code it well - eRightSofts Super does great). Sound quality is easily as good as an iPod. Browsing using Opera Mobile or Mini is excellent.

The only possible negative is that the Ovi store is a little sluggish compared to the Apple App store.

So the success of this phone in the states will not be down to the device itself - it'll be down to how well its marketed/supported over there.
PatalumaGuy
- Fat guy: I hate those Fins people, they are so polite and clean, they speak funny.
- Other Fat Guy: We are never going to take their phones, they are so cheap, smart phones for under 50 bucks, are they nuts?
- Even bigger guy: They kick Russian in WWII big time, we never could
- Fat lady: I thinks they were on Germany side in WWII let all hate them
- All: Yea lets hate the Fins and never use their cheap, never failing, hard as rock phones
End of meeting
The meeting lasted 5 minutes and 4 people eat 3 boxes of sugar coated pastry
Ammar_Dento
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatalumaGuy View Post
- Fat guy: I hate those Fins people, they are so polite and clean, they speak funny.
- Other Fat Guy: We are never going to take their phones, they are so cheap, smart phones for under 50 bucks, are they nuts?
- Even bigger guy: They kick Russian in WWII big time, we never could
- Fat lady: I thinks they were on Germany side in WWII let all hate them
- All: Yea lets hate the Fins and never use their cheap, never failing, hard as rock phones
End of meeting
The meeting lasted 5 minutes and 4 people eat 3 boxes of sugar coated pastry
loooooooooooooooool.....another ugly truth.
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatalumaGuy View Post
- Fat guy: I hate those Fins people, they are so polite and clean, they speak funny.
- Other Fat Guy: We are never going to take their phones, they are so cheap, smart phones for under 50 bucks, are they nuts?
- Even bigger guy: They kick Russian in WWII big time, we never could
- Fat lady: I thinks they were on Germany side in WWII let all hate them
- All: Yea lets hate the Fins and never use their cheap, never failing, hard as rock phones
End of meeting
The meeting lasted 5 minutes and 4 people eat 3 boxes of sugar coated pastry
And the irony would be:

Android -> Linux -> Linus Torvalds -> Suomi !!

So, Finland is actually responsible for the Android OS!
Unregistered
It's a good start, I guess....but T-Mobile? Really? They have pretty spotty coverage outside of major cities in the U.S. (i.e. the suburbs), and that's putting it kindly.

I would say that their main problem in the U.S., vs. iPhone or Android, will be the lack of basic applications/useability UI for smart phones. Some examples include: lack of integration of local transit (MTA and subway info) with Ovi Maps, in comparison with Google Navigation, and here's a crucial one---a lack of threaded conversations view in their messaging application.

This phone is likely to be picked up by the younger set, and the non-conversation view of messaging will turn many of the text-addicted off. Nokia along with Symbian needs to provide a fix for this, or else, integrate Free iSMS into the phones, out of the box. Most won't be familiar enough with S60v5 to go hunting around in forums for this app on their own.
clonmult
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
It's a good start, I guess....but T-Mobile? Really? They have pretty spotty coverage outside of major cities in the U.S. (i.e. the suburbs), and that's putting it kindly.

I would say that their main problem in the U.S., vs. iPhone or Android, will be the lack of basic applications/useability UI for smart phones. Some examples include: lack of integration of local transit (MTA and subway info) with Ovi Maps, in comparison with Google Navigation, and here's a crucial one---a lack of threaded conversations view in their messaging application.

This phone is likely to be picked up by the younger set, and the non-conversation view of messaging will turn many of the text-addicted off. Nokia along with Symbian needs to provide a fix for this, or else, integrate Free iSMS into the phones, out of the box. Most won't be familiar enough with S60v5 to go hunting around in forums for this app on their own.
Subway mapping is an interesting idea, and whilst its a nice idea I'm not sure how a satnav can actually work underground. It rarely seems to work inside buildings, so underground it seems highly unlikely to operate. Unless you are meaning being able to give basic directions, such as "get on at this underground station, take route <a> for however many stops".

Threaded conversations were available via the Nokia Conversations on the previous OS releases. For some reason its not yet available on S60v5.

You can view messages in a threaded form against contacts listed on the homescreen contacts bar, but that isn't quite the same.

The range of apps available on Ovi for the 5230 is quite surprising. Weather, note taking, drawing, silly little things (spirit level, seismograph, daily dilbert), and some quite nice games (connect 4, bejewelled twist, ovi maps racing, blockGo, Resco Bubbles, Skyforce reloaded, raging thunder, waveblazer, tower blox).
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by clonmult View Post
Subway mapping is an interesting idea, and whilst its a nice idea I'm not sure how a satnav can actually work underground. It rarely seems to work inside buildings, so underground it seems highly unlikely to operate. Unless you are meaning being able to give basic directions, such as "get on at this underground station, take route <a> for however many stops".

Threaded conversations were available via the Nokia Conversations on the previous OS releases. For some reason its not yet available on S60v5.

You can view messages in a threaded form against contacts listed on the homescreen contacts bar, but that isn't quite the same.

The range of apps available on Ovi for the 5230 is quite surprising. Weather, note taking, drawing, silly little things (spirit level, seismograph, daily dilbert), and some quite nice games (connect 4, bejewelled twist, ovi maps racing, blockGo, Resco Bubbles, Skyforce reloaded, raging thunder, waveblazer, tower blox).
I hear you, but see here's the thing: this is a Nokia smart phone with a flat T-Mobile data plan very, very likely attached. Somebody buying into a smart phone is not going to be moved by basic games, weather, spirit level, etc, etc.

They want value-added honest to goodness *applications*.

Unless of course Nokia and T-Mobile basically push this phone to the Sidekick/teenage market...
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I hear you, but see here's the thing: this is a Nokia smart phone with a flat T-Mobile data plan very, very likely attached. Somebody buying into a smart phone is not going to be moved by basic games, weather, spirit level, etc, etc.

They want value-added honest to goodness *applications*.

Unless of course Nokia and T-Mobile basically push this phone to the Sidekick/teenage market...
What *applications* are you talking about? I've never seen fart piano on Symbian, so the iPhone will obviously have a huge advantage there.

And the 5230 does have threaded conversations for texting. If you set up your contacts on the home screen, all text messages associated with a contact are grouped together in the screen that pops up when you touch the contact icon. Not as good as speech bubbles but it is threaded.
clonmult
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
What *applications* are you talking about? I've never seen fart piano on Symbian, so the iPhone will obviously have a huge advantage there.

And the 5230 does have threaded conversations for texting. If you set up your contacts on the home screen, all text messages associated with a contact are grouped together in the screen that pops up when you touch the contact icon. Not as good as speech bubbles but it is threaded.
That is the closest that the 5230 has to threaded messaging, but it isn't the full thing, and its not usable.

The Nokia Conversations app presented messages between you and another in a proper threaded layout, and you could reply in the same area. The threaded messaging on the 5230 doesn't work like that.

I'll echo your first comment - plenty of serious apps available for Symbian, I was just mentioning those that seem like they'll be more popular with the iPhone liking types.

The closest thing to a fart piano that I've seen is the Nokia sourced piano app. Which is truly dire. Although the step daughter did manage to get a recognisable tune out of it yesterday.
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by clonmult View Post
That is the closest that the 5230 has to threaded messaging, but it isn't the full thing, and its not usable.
I've been using it.

At least I though I was. But apparently it's not usable so I can't have been. I wonder what I've been doing all this time then?

I also have several good applications. But apparently but they must be a figment of my imagination too. By those that know best.
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by clonmult View Post
The threaded messaging on the 5230 doesn't work like that.
I know what it works like, I have one. I also stated it's not like the speech bubbles apps, but thanks for telling me anyway.
Unregistered
Why would any TMobile customer buy this over the Nexus One.

Keep dreaming. This phone will rot in the shelves.
clonmult
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Why would any TMobile customer buy this over the Nexus One.

Keep dreaming. This phone will rot in the shelves.
Not sure of the differences in pricing stateside, but at least in the UK the two are totally different pricing and markets. Going on like-for-like pricing (ie. SIM free, no subsidy), the 5230 is a QUARTER of the price - £150 vs £600. Thats a huge pricing differential.

As for the threaded SMS - the way it works on the 5230 is *not* threaded SMS. When you go to compose a reply it opens the standard SMS editor. To be a fully accepted threaded SMS it should show the messages in a list, different indents, and when you key in a reply it should be there in the list immediately, not opening up a separate editor.
Unregistered
Insane Reindeer

"But is T-Mobile's 3G coverage any good? Do they suffer from the same problems that blight AT&T's offering?"


I use both an N95 and 5800XM on AT&T and have no problems. My phones both display 3G and/or 3.5G 99.9% of the time. Very rarely does it ever slip into EDGE territory.
davekolmer
Well, I'm one American T-Mobile customer who has decided to pass on the Nexus One but will definitely buy the Nuron on the 17th. There are a number of reasons, but suffice it to say that although Nokia phones often don't have the build-quality or slim and classy appearance of other phones, they can just do so much with a few bits of add-on software. Just check out all the specs on the Nuron. I love the UI of the iPhone, but Symbian 5th will do fine for me despite its relative lack of eye candy. Free Ovi Maps is a big selling point. Incidentally, for some reason I just don't think the Nexus One is a very nice-looking phone; it's just bland.
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by clonmult View Post
Not sure of the differences in pricing stateside, but at least in the UK the two are totally different pricing and markets. Going on like-for-like pricing (ie. SIM free, no subsidy), the 5230 is a QUARTER of the price - £150 vs £600. Thats a huge pricing differential.
£150? You mean £79.....

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mob...OKIA-5230/PPAY

And that's unlocked. Any sim any network and you can have it in pink. They are also free on the lowest cheapest tariff.

I don't believe the Nexus one is £600. If you purchased one from Google in the US it worked out to be about £450 all in.

http://news.nexus-one.co.uk/post/328...ails-confirmed

Clonmult, do you just make it up as you type it in?
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by davekolmer View Post
Nokia phones often don't have the build-quality .
Build quality? How about build quality where it counts. You can drop one of these cheapo phones from your ear to concrete, and just pick it up and continue your call. I've done it. Some people don't like the way they feel and how the plastic flexes, but I know what I want from a phone.

For iPhones that have undergone a similar event do an Ebay search "iPhone broken screen".
It's the slimness and the stiffness and the way the shock impact energy transmits through the casing to the screen.

And if you buy this phone you will get double the battery life and superior call quality and connection in fringe areas compared to phones costing 5 times the price of this one.

Nokia have always done well with the fundamentals that are normally overlooked for superficial eye candy.
Unregistered
on that carphone warehouse link, look at specs
Next to smartphone criteria, there is a red cross!
It has the same OS as the N97....idiots!
Unregistered
Might work initially but wait til you load it up with apps and info. It only has 70mb internal memory!
Hooksym
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Might work initially but wait til you load it up with apps and info. It only has 70mb internal memory!
Not sure that's such a big deal. The 5800 only has 81Mb. So I load apps that will on the MicroSD. I still have 30Mb free on the phone.
KPOM
It's about time Nokia strikes a deal with T-Mobile. Their 3G network has a smaller geographic footprint than even AT&T, but it is all HSDPA 7.2, and they are in the middle of an HSPA+ upgrade that will eventually cover their entire 3G network. They also have a more reliable voice network and, unlike AT&T don't have the iPhone drawing attention away from their other smartphones.
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Might work initially but wait til you load it up with apps and info. It only has 70mb internal memory!
So how much is an 8GB sdhc card? $12 ? You can configure where your info is stored and where most apps install so the internal RAM never becomes a problem.

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