North American Nokia N95 8GB now available

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 6th 2008 at 5:29PM

We just got a call from our friendly local Nokia flagship store, and lo, it seems the mythical N95 8GB with HSDPA 850 / 1900 is now in stock. The all-black monster of Nokia's current Nseries lineup will run you a stiff $799 -- so get your credit card out, get your 3G on, and find out exactly what 8GB of music you want to carry with you.

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, n95, n95 8gb, N958gb, nokia, north america, NorthAmerica, slider

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 5:52PM

So what's the difference b/w the european & this one cuz i ordered the european one last week....

Highly Ranked

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 5:58PM

3G (UMTS/HSDPA).

Internationally, this is carried over the 2100MHz W-CDMA band, while AT&T Mobility uses 850MHz and 1900MHz. The latter is supported by the N95-3 and N95-4 (8GB NAM).

T-Mobile USA uses 1700MHz for W-CDMA; this is not supported by any version of the N95.

For more info, lookup "N95" in Wikipedia.

Highest Ranked

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 5:55PM

Course, I've had a N95 (NAM) w/8GB for a while, ever since SanDisk came out with 8GB SDHC cards.. :) The only difference is that my screen is 2.6 inches in a silver frame, not 2.8 in a black one, and that I am running slightly older firmware (no integrated search on the standby screen, and flash lite 2 instead of 3).

And that, my friends, will cost you about $499 + about $100 for the 8GB SDHC nowadays.

Neutral

bear @ Mar 6th 2008 6:11PM

i use to have that combinations too
but the ram on this is double up
and with the old ones i cant go onto facebook or imeem on the v15 fw it can!

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 7:24PM

I think when you say "old one" you are referring to the N95-1, not the N95-3. The N95-3 (a.k.a. "N95 NAM") already has 128MB of RAM, just like the n95-2 and n95-4 (8GB models).

I don't know about facebook (I guess the fact that this is important for you, plus your spelling, places you nearly a generation younger than me..), but this may be a flash lite v2. vs. v3 thing. The main difference is that Flash Lite 3 (only on the N95-2 and N95-4 8GB models) supports movie playback.

Of course, you can download Flash Lite 3 for the N95-1 and N95-3 as well, go to:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashlite3/

Neutral

GravyPlaya @ Mar 6th 2008 6:16PM

What firmware version does it have?? I just got the US N95 and its still got v11..

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 6:55PM

so which one is better cuz i'm going to run it on t-mobile w/the n95 8gb(black)

the recent us version 8gb
or
the unlocked n95 8gb

help me out, thankz! cuz is it worth paying for the $800 US version or which i payed $519 for the unlocked version?

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 7:26PM

For T-Mobile USA it does not matter -- you'll be limited to GSM/EDGE anyway. If you don't plan on switching to AT&T, stick with the international version (N95-2) - at least that will let you get 3G coverage abroad. (In fact, this is the only flavor that would work at all in Japan, since they don't use 2G/GSM networks there).

Neutral

Heffer @ Mar 6th 2008 7:10PM

The best thing about the iPhone is that it made it hard for me to justify paying anything more than $399 for a phone now.

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 7:39PM

How so? Despite its UI tricks, the iPhone is actually one of the _least_ capable phones on the market today:

- No 3G (don't bother saying that WiFi makes up for this, it doesn't. Plus, many other phones have wifi too).
- Nearly no bluetooth support (only one profile, HSP).. For instance, no stereo audio, no internet connection tethering with your laptop, no file transfer...
- No GPS.
- Crappy, nearly useless camera.
- No J2ME - or ANY 3rd party application support until today. Thus, for instance, no Opera Mini, EarthComber, Yahoo! Go, etc..
- No unlocking - even after your 2-year contract expires.
- Carrier exclusivity.

It _does_ of course have "sex appeal", including a very slick UI (multi-touch & all) - and a very effective marketing machine around it. (These factors tend to attract a certain kind of buyer - generally not as technically savvy, but quite vain, thus easily falling prey to the idea of being on the "bleeding edge"..)

If your current consideration (null hypothesis) is paying $399 for the iPhone, then nearly every option on the market would give you more "bang for the buck". You can even find "free" phones with more features.

Highest Ranked

Ari @ Mar 6th 2008 7:22PM

knowing that the N96 lives, i just couldnt bring my self to spend money on the N95

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 7:38PM

why does at&t let u have 3G?

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 7:40PM

b/c rite now i don't have a contract w/them & if at&t has 3g i just will switch over, what u think?

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 6th 2008 7:57PM

Sure they do. Try reading above.

The whole deal with 3G (and cellular bands in general) is that the North American bands are different from the international standards ones.

In most of the world (Europe, Asia, Africa...) GSM/2G signals are carried over 900Mhz and 1800MHz, and W-CDMA (UMTS/HxDPA) over 2100MHz. End of story.

In the US, these frequencies are reserved for military use. Instead, there are many competing standards in use:
- Verizon, Sprint and other carriers use CDMA and EV-DO (800MHz and 1900MHz) -- this is not at all compatible with GSM phones.
- AT&T carry both GSM/2G and W-CDMA/3G over 850MHz and 1900MHz.
- T-Mobile USA carry GSM over 1900MHz and W-CDMA over 1700Mhz.

For phone chipset manufacturers, this means that there is a tradeoff between the ability to fit in support for the variety of bands/technologies that exist vs. other features (like GPS, WiFi..). For instance, it will be easier to make a phone operate on all four GSM bands (850/900/1800/1900) for global usage than having it operate on 2 GSM bands (900/1800) and two CDMA bands (800/1900) - which explains why you see a lot more phones availabe for use with AT&T and T-Mobile than for other US carriers. On the other hand, Tri/Quad/Penta-band UMTS/HSDPA chipsets are just coming out these days, so you don't find a lot of "global 3G" phones yet. (SonyEricsson have a couple on the market, like the k850i, and a couple of even-more-versatile in the making, like the X1).

Based on your question, though, I guess most of this is a bit esoteric to you. The bottom line is that:

AT&T WILL let you have 3G. You just need a compatible handset. Which means an N95-3 or N95-4, but not N95-1 or N95-2.

Again, for some light reading, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N95

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 7:44PM

N95-4 (8GB NAM)
thats the one i purchased., is that the one they released today?

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 8:09PM

thanx homie, u been lots of help. i will probably switch over, i just need to take a look at there plans... thanx

Neutral

David @ Mar 6th 2008 8:23PM

so the only differrence b/w at&t & tmobile-usa is the ability to take it overseas? is there a difference in connection speed(internet,etc..)?

Neutral

Al @ Mar 6th 2008 11:17PM

You will not have 3G if you go overseas with the N95 8GB NAM, just voice and EDGE. You will not be able to roam in Japan or Korea at all.

at&t does not consider the N95 8GB NAM a smartphone, so you don't have to pay the $35 data plan. You can get the $15 media net plan instead.

Neutral

Michael @ Mar 7th 2008 11:16AM

Does any body know for sure the differences between the N95-3 and the N95-4 other than the obvious larger screen, 8GM, and slightly changed form factor (and color)? If I am correct in my assumptions they are both with the larger battery than the N95-1 and without the lens cover.

Is there anything else internal (or external) that I'm forgetting or not reading?

Because, if there really isn't any difference other than what I listed, I'd rather do what an above poster said and get the N95-3 (NAM non-8GB) and throw in an 8GB MicroSD card for $60 from Amazon! (Which brings up... does anyone know for FACT that it will handle an 8GB card? Nokia's site says, "Up to 2GB.")

Neutral

Michael @ Mar 7th 2008 11:32AM

I just read on GSM Arena that the N95-1 and N95-3 has 64MB of memory, can anyone confirm this? That both versions are at 64MB? Or does the N95-3 have the 128MB that the N95-2 and N95-4 have?

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 7th 2008 1:07PM

The only other difference between the -3 and the -4 is that the latter sports newer firmware (at least until an upgrade is made available for the -3). That means Flash Lite 3 - which is mainly an issue if you want to visit the main YouTube site directly in your web browser. ('Course, there are various YouTube players available for ANY Symbian S60 phone, including one written by YouTube themselves - just visit http://m.youtube.com/ from your phone, and there is a download link).

I can refute your claim that the -3 only has 64MB of RAM. That is incorrect. It has 128MB of RAM, and 160MB of internal flash. (I own one, so in addition to the specs being published at Nokia's web site, I have the ability to check the phone itself).

Otherwise, it is a very nice phone. The only only ones I'd consider for the feature set (if only the bands had been AT&T compatible) is the Nokia N82, the Nokia E90 Communicator, as well as the forthcoming Samsung G810 (Also Symbian S60, and nearly identical to the N95 in many ways, but with a 3x optical zoom and Xenon Flash), the Nokia N96, and the rumored (but not announced) Sony Ericsson P5i (UIQ).

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 7th 2008 1:09PM

Oh, and yes - by the way, the N95-3 DOES support SDHC (i.e. up to 32GB transflash). I use a 8GB card myself.

Neutral

Tor Slettnes @ Mar 7th 2008 1:28PM

It may be that you need to upgrade the N95-1 and N95-3 firmware (to 2.0.?? and 11.0.2.9, respectively) to get SDHC support.

Neutral

Josh78 @ Mar 7th 2008 11:36AM

Which model is this after all, 'type 421'?

Neutral

Teambaylagoon @ Mar 7th 2008 2:40PM

Just ordered mine from mobilecityonly.com $689

Neutral

alvin @ Mar 7th 2008 9:48PM

Man this things flies on the AT&T 3G network!!! Its fast!!! DAMN!!!!!!!!!

Neutral

sr @ Mar 7th 2008 9:57PM

Picked mine up at the Nokia Store NYC today. Just put all my music on it and finished installing a bunch of apps. I'm lovin' it.

Neutral

alvin @ Mar 7th 2008 10:41PM

Hey SR I picked my up this morning as well at the nokia flagship store on 57th street. I went there at 10 am. They called me yesterday and said its not been released but they are selling what they have to a select few people who were on the list. So I rushed this morning to pick mine up. Does that mean its not really officially released yet?

Neutral

sr @ Mar 8th 2008 12:54AM

Alvin,

Basically no one has it yet, and they are only selling to those on that call list. Their price is atrocious, but I had to have it. Mobilecityonline was reported to have gotten some today but not enough to fulfill all their pre-orders. They will have enough on Wednesday. I got mine around 1 today. Was yours also Made in Korea? They told me that none of these will be made in Finland.

Neutral

David @ Mar 8th 2008 12:08AM

yeah what type is this one????
-3 or -4 or ???

Neutral

sr @ Mar 8th 2008 12:54AM

N95-4.

Neutral

Brad @ Mar 8th 2008 2:18AM

Why did people bitch so much about the cost of the iPhone when it was released when this thing is $200 more than that? (now $300)

Neutral

Pdexter @ Mar 8th 2008 2:25PM

Well the fact that unlocked this is cheaper than iphone and via contract. Thought of course in states you cant get this via contract.

Neutral

plh2034 @ Mar 8th 2008 8:55AM

I dont see how anyone can buy this.
1. The N96 has already been announced.
2. The N95-3 is the same thing basically for less money.
3. $800 for a 2 year old phone.
4. All the new phones dropping this year.
5. AT&T is going to offer either this or the N95-3 soon for a price cut w/ contract.

Neutral

theoreticalb @ Mar 8th 2008 2:20PM

Nokia interface rocks.
The blue button squares all your circles!
The red one calls your companion cube.

Highly Ranked

aledc78 @ Miami @ Mar 8th 2008 10:48PM

blah

Low Ranked

sr @ Mar 9th 2008 4:57PM

Another dumb iPhone fuck. Having actual capabilities on your phone would blind the hell out of you dumb Apple fucks.

Neutral

Virtuous @ Mar 10th 2008 12:20AM

Why has every major phone manufacturer tried to emulate the iPhone? Apple has them running scared. If they weren't so scared they would just ignore Apple.

Neutral

sr @ Mar 11th 2008 1:56PM

Uh, N95 has sold more than the iPhone and that is just one of Nokia's stable.

Neutral

vennok @ Mar 15th 2008 10:17AM

Where can I purchase Nokia N95-4

Neutral

dc44 @ Mar 18th 2008 8:18PM

For Tor Slettnes and other N95 experts:

Please evaluate for me if a version of the N95 8GB will satisfy what I want:
- US carrier (T-M or AT&T)
- wan: web & email & data
- voip when overseas via carrier's wan plan

Seems like some carriers in Europe allows VoIP, and folks on AT&T can voip. I'm starting to have to travel to Asia and Canada a lot more, and would like to know my alternative options to the existing blackberries.

As well, is there any similarly capable phones soon to be released? I like these all-in-one devices - easy for the frequent flyers.

Thanks!