Nokia NYC flagship store preview
by Peter Rojas 
posted Sep 5th 2006 at 5:40PM
We managed to score a sneak preview of Nokia's still-not-quite-finished flagship retail store on 57th street in here in Manhattan earlier today. (And yes, it's right around the corner from the new Apple flagship store). The space itself isn't massive -- the entire sales area is less than 2,000 square feet -- but it does share the clean, modern design (and walls of LCD screens and LEDs) of the Chicago store which Chris visited back in June.
Click on for a bunch of pics:
Outside
They're still putting the finishing touches on the front of the store. So far no one is camped out front for the grand opening on the 9th.
First Floor
The wall of accessories.
Second Floor
Pick up a phone and the screen behind it will automatically display information about it.
Third Floor
No major surprises or unannounced phones or anything (not that we were expecting any of that), but definitely well worth the trip, even if you're not a Nokia fanboy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chris @ Sep 6th 2006 12:39AM
It looks like the case where nokia is saying "look at all the pretty colors, and don't take note that most if not all of our phones suck."
-former nokia 9500 communicator owner
PEZ @ Sep 5th 2006 7:38PM
Holy ShitCakes™ I hope they have the Model-2 E70 for the US! :-D
kiloglobin @ Sep 5th 2006 7:33PM
I don't think that the Communicator Series phones are good indications of the quality of Nokia phones. Nokia makes some of, if not the best phones on the planet!
BatteryAcid @ Sep 5th 2006 7:56PM
I had a Dream about this...no seriously.
Otter @ Sep 5th 2006 8:32PM
Nokia makes, arguably, some of the most reliable handsets in the world. I love my 3595, 6010, 3200, 6230, 6800..
Darla @ Sep 5th 2006 10:09PM
Can't wait to see it this weekend!
VBAjedi @ Sep 5th 2006 8:51PM
kiloglobin and otter: Leave chris the troll in grumpyland by himself. . . only trolls make such sweeping dismissals of globally-recognized companies like Nokia. . .
And let me be the first to say that I, for one, welcome our hypnotic-color-wielding overlords! (Sorry, couldn't resist since there was NO reference to world-dominating robots in this comment section yet)
Reality Check @ Sep 5th 2006 8:59PM
Dayum. Can we say "BLINGED-OUT EXCESS"
Funkenstein @ Sep 5th 2006 9:52PM
I owned a Nokia back in '96 and it was a great phone for it's day. I am really interesTED in the new N93.
http://www.nokia.com/N93
What is the consensus on this thing? Does anyone have the N90? I really would like to have a small, decent quality video camera on me at all times. I think the N93 will retail in US for ~$800. Anyone? I'm definitely going to the new store and grilling some staff.
Curious User @ Sep 11th 2006 7:05PM
Anyone have any idea how they are getting the LCD screens to change when the phone is lifted? Is this some kind of RFID trick? Anyone know the company who is making that for them?
Perrey Z. @ Sep 5th 2006 11:31PM
Damn! just how many Phones does Nokia produce? they look like rabbits., three floors just for cellphones and accessories in NYC? what a waste of real estate.
The store is very chick and they have to be, with a neighbor like Yves Saint Laurent. Another thing i notice is the ambient is very similar to a sophisticated yuppies club.
This looks like a place were beautiful people will hang out all the time instead of trying and buying cellphones. I bet you could meet someone special on a Saturday afternoon.
Lib @ Sep 6th 2006 12:40AM
If they can update my E61's firmware I WILL BE THERE!! ;)
chris @ Sep 6th 2006 12:39AM
The communicator series was always nokia's top business flagship phone. I owned a few of them and noticed the quality was getting worse with each new model. That's what you should expect with a $900.00 dollar phone right? I currently use the Qtek 9000 and it's amazing. I spent the same amount of money but this new phone isn't bugy and doesn't crash every 10 seconds.
tech @ Sep 6th 2006 1:01AM
after wanting to update my european nokia phone here in the US for a year. I wish they could just let us update our own phones like windows mobile 5. No it's not inconvenient to send my phone off to europe to have it flashed for two weeks. Oh wait, yes it is!
Jim Jolo @ Sep 6th 2006 2:03AM
Chris, check out the Nokia E series for cutting edge business phones that perform better than most windows mobile phones.
Tech, you can now update most Nokia smartphones via an update tool on your PC and some with over the air updates.
Whilst moto and samsung etc were perfecting fashion phones nokia has been fine tuning their series 60 smartphone OS and the multimedia capabilities of their handsets. Check out their newer models before talking trash.
Filip @ Sep 6th 2006 2:07AM
To tech:
Soon all Nokia phones will be "flashable" in the comfort of you own home. Currently only a few phones are updatable, but the goal seems to have the support there for all Nokia phones.
Check this site out and have a look if your phone is there: http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,1522,,00.html?orig=/softwareupdate
Last addition was the N91 phone to that list (just this Monday) and the update was easy enough for anyone IMO! :) (In fact, easier than updating some Pocket PCs)
koenig @ Sep 6th 2006 4:36AM
Funkenstein: I went and had a look at the N90 when it came and, man is it huge! Not the phone I'd lug around in my pocket, I tell you. The features definitely comes at a price. Cool idea; lousy follow through.
Avengelist @ Sep 6th 2006 8:00AM
My question: Will the phones be unlocked?
george @ Sep 7th 2006 12:20PM
Nokia phones are the best. I now own a SonyEricson, good stuff but slow n not so user friendly. Unfortunately, I want to have on me a video(mp4)+camera(4Mp)+mp3 player all time (+mobile phone ofcourse!), but nothing small enough on the market yet... Waiting for engadget news next year! One question? Does not everybody dream of a phone like the one I'm waiting for??? cheers
Ian @ Sep 6th 2006 11:07AM
hi, Nokia just opened a store downtown Helsinki Finland.. I can go and take some pics.. But It's the same styling as this one.. There's a vertu phone thing in the back, and i printed a picture from my siemens m75. I guess this messeage is for engadget...
Anyway... I like the Nokia E61, and the 73...
I'm 15, and in school they talk about nokia being big economical greatness for Finland. I think Nokia is going to make some awesome phones..
Texrat @ Sep 11th 2006 4:53PM
Excellent. Nokia phones deserve better than they get from the US carrier-driven market.
I,Robot @ Sep 11th 2006 12:35AM
I can believe they didn't put a Nokia store in California? Not even in LA? Come on.