A look at AT&T's pipeline, early March 2008 edition

Moving on to April and beyond, the Pantech "Breeze" is expected some time next month, but don't get too excited -- it's an entry level flip that should move out the door free on contract. The Motorola Z9 slider should lackadaisically stroll into stores in late April, and finally, we've heard that the Nokia N95 has been approved by the carrier's powers that be (!!!) and should be available in the second quarter; no word on whether it's the standard N95 or the N95 8GB, though. How about an N96 with MediaFLO while you're at it, guys?
[Thanks, Kal]
Update: We've just heard from another tipster that the N95 in question is the original for the North American market, the N95-3. It apparently just started going through the arduous approval process last week, a testing marathon that takes roughly 400 hours -- four to six months -- to complete. By then, we'll all have 4G radios embedded directly within our brains and be living in terraformed colonies on Mars, but it was a nice thought on AT&T's part nonetheless.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave @ Mar 2nd 2008 1:28PM
N95 with subsidies would be SWEET
Erik P. Hilderbrand @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:12PM
The day AT&T picks up the N95 is the day I sell mine. Immediately.
carlo2 @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:47PM
care to elaborate as to why you'd feel it necessary to do so?
Anthony @ Mar 2nd 2008 4:50PM
Groucho Marx: "I won't belong to any organization that would have me as a member."
youngcalihottie @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:12PM
he'd probably do so because it would have carrier specific features available on it. since it is capable of video calls, i dont see why they wouldnt make it video share compatible. although nokia has not released any video share phones to date.
sm @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:59PM
What???? When the hell is k850i/k850a coming?
Erik P. Hilderbrand @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:39PM
I doubt we'll ever see the K850i. Excellent phone, which again will be crippled.
wds00746 @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:29PM
That is what I am talking about, I am ready for an upgrade, and this was going to be my phone to upgrade to, it was scheduled for a march launch, then just disappeared, wtf att?
RoseGold @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:17PM
because its not cool if everyone and their grandmas has the same phone as you ....
Doug @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:44PM
For the sake of not ruining the N95, I'm actually hoping they don't do it. I don't want to see another mess like my N75. AT&T ruined the phone, and they'll do the same with the N95. Unless they leave it the heck alone and sell it like the iPhone I say don't bother AT&T. They've done nothing but give Nokia a bad name here in the U.S. by crippling their phones and creating problems with them. It's a real shame.
Erik P. Hilderbrand @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:35PM
Well, the main reason being, I like having something different.
The second reason, which is equal to the first reason is; AT&T will cripple the N95 to the point of no return. Just like they crippled the Nokia N75, and the Nokia E62. At that point, you have everyone complaining that the N95 will be a piece of junk. Which, if AT&T picks it up, subsidizes it, and fills it full of bloatware, it won't be worth a damn.
I paid 499.99 for my N95-3. I don't want to see it depreciate and sell for 199.99, with a $50.00 MIR.
Mark Jenkins @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:15PM
Erik,
Your argument justifies staying with what you have. If you want to have something different AND AT&T will cripple the N95, stay with the legitimate N95 and show AT&T's victims what they pay in terms of limited functionality for a locked phone.
I am looking forward to comparing my N95 with an AT&T unit. I got mine well before they did. I got one with full HSPA network support, as opposed to AT&T blocking it, like they do on the Tilt. And, mine will probably have a lot more media functionality.
I'll wait and see how unique the real N95 is when the AT&T version is shipped. By then, the real N96 may be available.
Mark
Dave @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:52PM
honestly though, the fact that you would get rid of something just because it is no longer "unique" is probably one of the dumbest arguments I've ever heard...
Would you get rid of your iPod and get a Zune because everyone has an iPod? I mean, I hate Apple, I mean literally HATE Apple, but guess what? I still own a 5th gen iPod because it is the best mp3 player by means of form and functionality on the market.
Dave @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:54PM
also, of all the carriers to cripple phones, Verizon, not AT&T would be most likely. The Tilt wasnt crippled at all with the exception of the front camera (which couldnt have really been used on ATT's network anyways since video share is one way)
youngcalihottie @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:16PM
that delay is probably related to the delay of video exchange
Matt @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:37PM
As much as I will hate to see N95 be available on at&t I pledge to show everyone how to change the product sode so you won't be stuck with the shitty at&t crippleware. The phone will remain locked but the firmware will be a generic Nokia N95-3.. I pledge to help.
Erik P. Hilderbrand @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:29AM
It may be a preposterous argument, no doubt but I find it to be amusing that people will pay for cripple ware. I won't.
As far as flashing the firmware, it needs to be unlocked. Just like the N75 had to be unlocked before the product code could be changed, and the firmware updated via NSU.
Where we will run in to a major problem is Nokia putting out updates for the N95. As if they aren't already, but the problem will be just like it was with the N75 and E62. All but completely removed from NSU. Classy, Nokia/AT&T.
As far as the iPod, Zune Argument, I own an iPod 5th Gen. It sits and collects dust. It was given to me, so whatever. That's why I have my N95. :)
mikeed8986 @ Mar 3rd 2008 8:36AM
well send that ipod my way then! ;)