It's no secret that Nokia's
waiting in the wings with its low-end 3555 flip for T-Mobile, but here's the thing: as low-end as it may be, it's still 3G, which makes it a blockbuster by T-Mobile standards. The latest intelligence indicate that T-Mob's liking March 17 as the retail release date for the phone, featuring myFaves support, stereo Bluetooth, microSD slot, speakerphone, and a VGA cam -- not bad, considering the fact that it'll almost certainly be within a few bucks of free on contract. Perhaps the best part of this whole document, though, is the verbiage directed at sales staff imploring that the 3555 be sold "without any reference to UMTS," and if the customer specifically asks about the phone's 3G capabilities, there are a few canned responses (nothing we don't already know, really) designed to shut the customer up and get 'em out the door with a smile on their face and a 3555 in their pocket.
[Thanks, Mumbo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nando @ Feb 26th 2008 10:15AM
Here's hoping for 3G on T-Mobile coming REALLY soon. :hopes:
john @ Feb 26th 2008 11:46AM
If Nokia ports that "Instant Messaging" app to their Maemo platform, and adds an HFP command app to Maemo, then this would be the idea phone to throw in my backpack/bookbag and forget about. Then I'd just use my N810 as the handset for it.
That with a T-mobile Individual Unlimited plan and Total Internet add-on ... That would be lovely.
PEZ @ Feb 26th 2008 11:59AM
Why does Tmobile continue to add pile-of-crap phones to their line up. I know this is a big marlet (the flip tiny make-a-call-only) market, but at some point, Tmo is going to need to play catch-up (ketchup) to the other boys who are railing with things like voyager, htc touch, iphones, and others that have a-GPS's - things to help people nolbility wise. Yeah, I am complaining, but if I dont, no one will.
Fernando @ Feb 26th 2008 12:18PM
Gotta love those canned responses, after all, who cares about 3G when we can stick together. =P
Nando @ Feb 26th 2008 1:32PM
I like your name.
Steve T @ Feb 26th 2008 2:13PM
I'm seriously starting to think that this is T-Mobile's business plan:
Offer a relatively cheap service plan since they can't offer 3G anyway, then offer such a shitty assortment of phones that people buy their own unlocked devices.
Btw- The 6555 which is the 3555's "big brother" (more like big sister- no offense to the sisters out there, but hey, it's kind of a chick phone) sucks at everything other than having above average call quality. I do like nokia stuff quite a bit, but their low end has gotten awful; probably through no real fault of their own. If the carriers wouldn't demand such devices, so that they can "differentiate" their lineup, they wouldn't have to produce them. I expect this one to be no better than its' sibling.
Pdexter @ Feb 26th 2008 2:55PM
Well if you are looking for low end Nokia's dont even bother with the flips. I actually think that Nokia's low end are in a different league compared to others it's mid phones where the competition is more even matched with SE and Samsung, but that's just my opinion these are after all matter of taste.
Pete @ Feb 26th 2008 6:47PM
I used to work for T-Mobile and whoever you got this screenshot from is an employee. I can tell it's from a database called Streamline. Someone better hope they don't lose their job...t-mo used threaten employees about this stuff all the time!!!!!
teufel @ Feb 27th 2008 2:19AM
i was just going to say the same thing i noticed earlyer the new bb from not the same person but again from the data base we use at t-mobile as you said called stream line but it could be a direct rsr or a call center employee
Soultruth @ Mar 6th 2008 6:34PM
so heres whay it is. t mobile wants to have alot of low lvl phones out that are umts to test the frequency. the network is 95% done and now just a bunch of data collecting test are being done.... the plan is to basically have the phones go between edge/gsm and umts (like hot spot at home) so we can gather info..... and yea i said we cuz.... i work there....not as a retail rep but in the call centers
Mark A. Lamb @ Mar 17th 2008 10:28AM
it is available now.