Orange UK ditch N73

[3GScottishUser]

From Mobile Today (11/09/2006):

Orange has pulled the plug on its plans to sell the Nokia N73, marking yet another pull back from the manufacturers high-end Nseries.

Despite the handset being listed as 'coming soon' on its website, a spokeswoman said that it had made the decision to not to sell it because of 'software problems'.

O2, Vodafone and Three are all stocking the device and have not reported any glitches. T-Mobile will begin selling an exclusive white and mocha variant within the next two weeks, as well as the standard silver and plum version carried by the other networks.

Orange is believed to be having trouble customising the Nseries handsets with their own software, adding new features and modifying the user interface to suit their customers.

Two months ago, Orange made the decision not to stock the popular N91 handset because it failed to meet 'strict internal testing requirements'.

http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/content/3494.asp

[3g-g]

Eh, surely just not putting the Orange homescreen SW on it and selling it as a "generic handset", as they do with quite a few others, would just be the answer? Is that just being too sensible? :confused:

Either way, I'm not too sure what the n73 had to offer over other recent Nokia handsets, but if Nokia can keep managing to make their handsets more difficult to customise by the operators that's fine with me! I don't want any shortcuts off my main screen, I'm happy to press the menu button and find things from there, I'm pretty sure that's why Nokia placed it there in the first place!

[Hands0n]

Hear, Hear! Someone tell the Mobile Ops that we really do not want their customisations and functional/feature sabbotage.

[3GScottishUser]

I agree but Orange have some excellent unique services like 'Line 2' that they have provisioned on their phones for a long time.

One has to bear in mind that when you get an expensive phone for free on a contract you pay nothing for it so the branding is perhaps a small price to pay to get the very latest technology.

[3g-g]

I agree but Orange have some excellent unique services like 'Line 2' that they have provisioned on their phones for a long time.

That however is written into the GSM specs iirc, it's just something that Orange chose to implement, so, a lot of handsets over the last few years have had the functionality to use it, it was just the other networks chose not to support it.

[Ben]

I'm laughing all over. Every time Orange's insane branding crusade devastates another perfectly good mobile I feel like slapping Sanjiv Ahuja with a wet fish until he screams like a girl. By all accounts the N73 is a super phone, and this is surely Orange's loss.

All this convergence leaves them in danger of forgetting what they are... a mobile phone company. Still, at least they don't think they're a media company... yet!

[Hands0n]

...... at least they don't think they're a media company...


............. of counting chickens :D Give them time ......... they're on the right road ...... they'll get there

[getti]

Aparantly LOADS of N73's are on the way to Orange to be sold from this weekend

[Dav]

Hey guys - this my first post on the forum so hello to all!

I just got an email this morning from Orange telling me the N73 was now available! Were they yanking my chain or what??? I've been keeping a watch on as I really want the phone but I'm only 12 months into my current 18 month contract (although due to my usage I am eligible for upgrade already) so I can't really switch network at the moment.

........I think I may have to give them a call!

[3g-g]

Dav, welcome to Talk3G! :)

If the orignal story is true then perhaps Orange have realised that there's too much demand for the handset not to release it jus 'cos they can't brand it they way they want. If you do pick one up be sure to come back and tell us all about the specific network operator SW (if any!).

G.

[Alio]

No N91.......No N73......stupid balloon ads.......crap reception......rubish tariffs......"What the hell is going on Orange".......I'm off, goodbye Orange!

[Dav]

Well I never quite got round to calling them but I noted Today on 3g (http://www.todayon3g.co.uk/) seem to be claiming that this rumour is untrue and Orange now have the phone listed to buy on their site (http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/handset/nokia_n73/detail/pay_monthly) (although it is still categorised as "coming soon" for upgrade).

I couldn't see it yet at Carphone Warehouse but Tescos (http://www.tescophones.com/pay-monthly/orange/nokia/n73/can4018/) also have the phone listed as "in stock" for Orange!

Sounds like Orange either changed their minds or it was an inaccurate report. I have to note that I have never been able to see the original article making the claim as it was removed from the net before I read this thread and it has never been restored, making me suspicious as to its accuracy.

Anyway the good news is it looks like the phone WILL be available for Orange users *jumps for joy*. Now I have to decide which stupid balloon animal I want to be!! :confused:

:cool: Dav

[Hands0n]

Interesting news Dav - I'm guessing you're tied to Orange, cos if not there are other networks offering it by now - it is an impressive handset. But not my cup of tea so I'm glad that I'm not in the market at the moment.

[Dav]

Yeah I'm tied in for a good few months yet and to be honest I am quite happy with Orange; they do offer the kind of contract I would want.

But had they not released the N73 I would have definitely been thinking about serving out my existing contract and switching. It's the phone I want. I think some operators forget that many people are more interested in which phone they use than whose operator logo appears on the screen.