Having trouble telling the difference between this and a
garden-variety N810? Yeah, don't worry about it -- that's okay, and it's actually by design. We had an opportunity to tool around with Nokia's just-announced
N810 WiMAX Edition today, and it stays very true to the original N810's formula, substituting a darker case and keyboard (both of which look very handsome, by the way), and physically, that's about it. The real magic happens deep within this thing's innards, where the addition of a WiMAX radio keeps things speedy when WiFi hotspots are out of reach and Bluetooth tethering to a 3G phone is too much of a hassle. The software necessary to support XOHM activation isn't complete yet, but Nokia's reps tell us that the process of signing up for WiMAX service will be seamless and entirely doable from the N810 itself -- no pesky phone calls or visits to a store necessary. They likened it to purchasing hotel internet service; there'll probably be hourly, daily, or continuous subscriptions available, making it possible to only shell out XOHM coin when the situation demands it. It works just like any other data connection on the device, too, so getting your wide-area broadband on is pretty much as painless as it could possibly be. Check out some shots (including a side-by-side with the original N810) in the gallery!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
qrius @ Apr 1st 2008 5:53PM
does this have PIM features?
turn_self_off @ Apr 1st 2008 7:28PM
not to my knowledge. still, one can install GPE apps, and there is a tool to sync with google services (and someone is working on getting opensync going).
Eric Warnke @ Apr 1st 2008 8:21PM
No they don't have a PIM and the apps GPE and Pimlico are both marginal on a good day, a wreck on a bad day. The same thing can be said for most of the software on the platform.
Adding WiMAX to this pig is only another nail in the NIT coffin.
totalundone @ Apr 1st 2008 9:56PM
I hope in the future they will create pim applications for the N810. If they had something for tasks/appointments/etc to appear on the 'home' screen, I would have bought one a while ago.
jason @ Apr 1st 2008 5:56PM
so it has 3g? yes?
Jonosono @ Apr 1st 2008 6:05PM
Its doesn't have 3G. However you can use it in tandem with a 3G phone over bluetooth.
Erwos @ Apr 1st 2008 6:10PM
Insofar as WiMax is a 3G/4G protocol, yes.
Anthony @ Apr 1st 2008 6:04PM
Best think about the wimax edition? It'll lower the price of the standard N810. I've wanted to get one for my wife & now that this version's out we may see the other slip in price just a wee bit more.
Otherwise wimax is about as useful to most folks as 100mbps was to that laundry dryin' lady in Scandinavia.
Kozzi @ Apr 1st 2008 7:11PM
100 Mbps doesn't generate enough heat, it was 40 Gbps
Anthony @ Apr 1st 2008 8:39PM
40gbps. Yes, I'm not surprised she was hot. Wait. Laundry. Right.
Dirk Lucas @ Apr 1st 2008 6:11PM
Why didnt they come up with a phone version of this? I mean, theyre Nokia, they should find out how to do it.
turn_self_off @ Apr 1st 2008 7:28PM
its like the foleo. its supposed to play along with a phone, not stand on its own.
Jeremy @ Apr 1st 2008 6:14PM
Now if I could somehow make all my calls over this thing. VOIP? And then ditch the BT phone all together for an all ion one solutions I'd jump all over this bad boy.
VOIP via WiMAX. Thoughts anyone?
ClaMs @ Apr 1st 2008 6:15PM
Excuse me, I'm confused. I'm trying to buy more minutes for my T mobile account, and I can't find the recharge account button anywhere on the site.
Also, can I buy this Nokia N810?
yalop @ Apr 1st 2008 6:25PM
I dont understand - Wifi or no? what coverage does WiMax has if at all?
HalfJoey @ Apr 1st 2008 6:33PM
I'm getting more and more interested in this. I've been wanting a PMP/GPS/Internet device but i wasn't sure if I should get an all-in-one phone thing or two seperate things. I wouldn't mind getting a cheap phone if i could get something like this. (if it works well) since there doesn't seem to be good all-in-one device for Verizon without paying for every little thing.
Eric Warnke @ Apr 1st 2008 8:24PM
The GPS sucks, the PMP can't play some common audio formats, and it can't play MOST video formats. The internet is not half bad, but you have to put up with the rest of the platform.
HalfJoey @ Apr 1st 2008 11:43PM
Thanks a lot for your impressions. I suppose I have to keep an eye out for it while looking into other things like the iPod Touch or an Archos player.
MattyG @ Apr 1st 2008 6:59PM
so does this mean the older devices are getting wimax or what?
Jason @ Apr 1st 2008 7:35PM
Does this fix the problems with the DMA chip or anything else? Or is it just as slow as the 800/810 (I have the 800)?
IE, is there any reason at all to upgrade to this or does it only add WiMax?
I really want to love the thing and the idea of a WiMax version but without any other improvements I just don't see the point in the device as it actually lowers my productivity to use it.
Eric @ Apr 1st 2008 8:26PM
No, nothing... no DMA, no 3d support, not even a ram boost.
Taigoara Garbin @ Apr 1st 2008 9:05PM
Very good idea!!!
Sean O @ Apr 1st 2008 10:16PM
Nobody seems to be mentioning that this is the first ever "Jukebox in the Sky" to be truly portable?
Assuming it supports Rhapsody player (the N800 does), this is the first time you can have legal, unlimited access to millions of tracks instantly (no downloading) without being confined to a WiFi hotspot.
Granted, WiMax is not available everywhere yet and it's usually really expensive. But I can't ignore what a revolutionary product this is and I'm baffled at how it's not even being marketed as such.
Sometime between 2010 and 2015, satellite radio will have as bright a future as the CD does now because we're going to see dozens of WiMax/3G-type connected music products. Products like "iPod Air featuring iTunes Unlimited", or the "Zune Anywhere", or the "Clarion Connected" car stereo.
How many people will realize that back in 2008 the Nokia N810 was the very first one?
Sure, there's dozens of 3G phones out there with music capabilities. But how many of them can access an unlimited music service without having to manually download the tracks first? The answer is zero. People can make jokes about the poor success subscription music has had. But when you can access it from your car or at the gym, that changes everything.
theflew @ Apr 1st 2008 10:28PM
Good point Sean!!!
Vinay @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:32AM
I've got a Sony P1i and have installed VirtualRadio on it.
Over 800 music channels, CD qualty. Free.
I've used it for years, now. The application, and similar applications have been available since a long time.
Sean O @ Apr 2nd 2008 1:31PM
Radio stations (even 800 of them) are not the same thing as an on-demand music library.
Vinay @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:57AM
Yes, that's why I have a 4-gig memory stick in the phone.
However, I like to surprise myself, so radio is what I use mostly.
Sean O @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:43AM
So when your not bragging Virtual Radio and it's horrific 32kbps radio stations, you're bragging about your 4GB memory stick? Correct?
Valgas @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:24AM
Well with some people saying the multimedia features of the device aren't all that, can anyone recommend a very portable querty internet device that also has very capable media playback?
Oh wait, the N810 exists!
FRZ @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:45AM
They should of fix the keyboard like everyone's been talking about since the N810 came out. Aren't they listening to customers and potential customers?
David Wright @ Apr 2nd 2008 2:13PM
Any word on whether Slacker.com still crashes the browser?
Benton Pena @ Apr 13th 2008 11:41AM
Does anybody know XOHM working frequency and spectrum? I guess it's 2.5 Ghz... I googled but found nothing.
John Valenti @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:29PM
The spec sheet for the N810 wimax version says it is only 2.5GHz. And it includes a "quick start guide for XOHM", so I'm pretty sure that is the frequency their version of wimax supports.