Nokia N96 hits the FCC, gets stripped

Sure, we've already gotten a chance to play with the Nokia N96 -- and even seen a couple reviews -- but you know Uncle Sam's got to get his taste before this thing gets its rumored launch later this month. Yep, nothing spectacular in the test reports, but if you've got a thing for industrial photography of circuit boards under florescent lights, you might want to hit the read link while you're alone.

[Via Cellphone Signal]

[zephxiii @ Aug 11th 2008 10:05PM]

WCDMA bands I and VIII (2100mhz and 900mhz)

ref. http://www.rfcafe.com/references/electrical/wcdma%20band%20frequency.htm

[Ayle @ Aug 11th 2008 10:13PM]

Which ones do we use here again?

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 11th 2008 10:11PM]

Oh baby. Work it work it. Take off those button covers...oh you are a naughty piece of silicon aren't you? So can I touch your green or you red button? Both....wow. You don't meet many handsets that are that flexible.

[grull27 @ Aug 12th 2008 12:51AM]

lawl

[King Mustard @ Aug 11th 2008 10:16PM]

Will be a nice upgrade to my Nokia N95 :)

[Indefinite Implosion @ Aug 11th 2008 10:23PM]

pleeease tell me your being sarcastic...
otherwise...
:| please leave the internoodle. immediately.
kthnx

[Nastro @ Aug 11th 2008 10:26PM]

It's hot. It wont work here.

[d @ Aug 11th 2008 10:31PM]

actually im serious :p

[The Dude @ Aug 11th 2008 10:36PM]

You certainly came to the right place. They're due for one. The last iPhone entry was over 5 hours ago. I'm starting to get worried, wut about u guyz?

[j @ Aug 11th 2008 10:39PM]

imho, n96 = killer specs, poor design. nokia can certainly do better.

[Big Al @ Aug 11th 2008 11:02PM]

They could do better, but they currently own 40% of the world handset phone market share. Their next closest competition is Samsung with a 16-18% share.

[Alberto @ Aug 11th 2008 11:27PM]

poor design? I got an n81. It's been through hell and back and it still a great looking phone. Plus, it's mac friendly. N series rocks. I only hope this means that a carrier here in the states will sell the phone.

[Tejas @ Aug 12th 2008 2:36AM]

Poor Design?! Have you ever used a proper Nokia?!

I've never had any trouble with a Nokia. My entire family uses Nokia. We've tried Samsung, LG, Motorola... hell even Alcatel (if you've ever tried that before they went out of business!). Nothing beats a Nokia for reliability and usability!

Sure, it doesn't have the eye-candy of an iPhone, but my parents still prefer the Nokia design convention to the iPhone's touchscreen.

Being a tech geek, I've checked out every aspect of an iPhone, and I've come to the conclusion that Nokia's smartphones are waaaay better than the iPhone.

Besides, my Nokia N95's been super reliable ever since I bought one over a year and four months back! The firmware updates have been smooth, and have been noticeable improvements in areas where there have been complaints (however minor). GPS reception and the speed to triangulation has gone up drastically! A-GPS was added later, but it worked like a charm ever since it was!

I'll stick to a Nokia, please... lot's of free and useful apps! And customizable too! :-)

Ever drop your iPhone and seen if it still works?! I've dropped my N95 a few times (inadvertently), and there's hardly even been a noticeable scratch!

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 12th 2008 3:26AM]

The iphone isn't about spec comparisons - if compare specs is all you have done, you've done, you're totally missing the point.

Sure, it's not for everyone, but if you fancy something different, it's a joy to use. In comparison, Symbian is a slow, ugly, outdated, memory leaking pig of an OS. I do love it, but sums up Nokia's attitude perfectly: "we're market leaders, we don't need to evolve".

[Mark Anderson @ Aug 12th 2008 5:50AM]

Of course they don't need to evolve! That's why we're all running S60v1 and not S60v3 FP2 with S60 v5 in the works.

[j @ Aug 11th 2008 11:07PM]

you have a point there but between this and samsung omnia.. i'll choose omnia anytime.

[j @ Aug 11th 2008 11:13PM]

i declare the reply function officially crap. = =

[Alberto @ Aug 11th 2008 11:29PM]

yeah that is a kool phone. But am a sucker for a slider. the whole touch then is old to me now. I need a phone that can survive a lot of abuse.

[coolbee8 @ Aug 11th 2008 11:10PM]

Strip search?

[Alberto @ Aug 11th 2008 11:23PM]

N96 kicks iphone a$$. Wait what! I can add 16 gb of flash memory to the n96...what! you can;t do that with iphone. What! the N96 is nicely built. What! iphone gets cracks on its casing.Yes, I agree the iphone sucks a$$,

[efua @ Aug 11th 2008 11:26PM]

I cant wait for this beast to be available! I am definitely upgrading from my N93i

[Shahryar @ Aug 11th 2008 11:38PM]

I hope there's a version of this phone in the future that's compatible with T-mobile USA's upcoming 3G bands.

[andy @ Aug 12th 2008 2:15AM]

so i guess nokia is going the route of having less functionality for more flash.. touch pad keys? seriously? i guess tactical feedback isnt something users like.. or the reason why we dont buy touchscreen phones!

[andy @ Aug 12th 2008 2:18AM]

so i guess nokia is going the route of having less functionality for more flash.. touch pad keys? seriously? i guess tactical feedback isnt something users like.. or the reason why we dont buy touchscreen phones!

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 12th 2008 3:18AM]

Nokia will never understand what it means to build a luxury handset - sure the iPhone 3G has some case cracking issues, but nothing beats the all-out cheap and flimsy plastic cases that (barely) holds their gadgets together.

As a heavy phone user, I've been through numerous N95's; each time due to some kind of dumb physical defect typical of mid-range market laziness.

Look at their Tube - going to be one piece of crap, and even Nokia know it, hence why they're releasing it under the 5000 music range.

I used to love Nokia, but seriously, they are going to be forever trapped in the doom of mid-range hell.

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 4:28AM]

Simple: Buy an Eseries, whiner.

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 12th 2008 8:14AM]

Yes, because apathy will make up for Nokia's declining innovation.

Interesting perspective....zzz...

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 9:12AM]

Damn, so you think Nokia changes anything because you're whining around?
Rather full of yourself, aren't you? And I'd like to know how you managed to get hold of a 5800 already, since you're fit to judge it already? Elaborate, please, on what exactly makes it "one piece of crap", huh? Give me a list. I'm waiting.

God I'm sick of people that think they know everything by just taking a glance at a crappy spypic of an unfinished model.

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 12th 2008 10:38AM]

@L: Yeah I guess it's impossible someone who works for a major network is actually interested enough in phones to view engadget and post a comment... ever thought about who helps decide EOL's? Or, at that, the phones which get EOL'd after 3 months...?

Now how about you quit your whining, and preorder a Tube whilst there's actually interest in it.

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 12:53PM]

If anybody from a major network bases his/her decisions on the opinion of Engadget commentators, well, then he/she is ridiculously inadequate for the job. Simple as that.

But just continue believing that. Maybe Santa or the Tooth Faerie are out there too - who knows?

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 12th 2008 2:36PM]

Just... wow. I'm genuinely flattered you think my job is a magical impossibility of such legendary proportions... thanks. Since everything is relative, I hate to think what you do for a living.

[Blacky @ Aug 12th 2008 3:48AM]

Are there still professional grade phones out there without a touch screen ?
Bliah !

[Mark Anderson @ Aug 12th 2008 5:52AM]

I want this. Or maybe a Samnsung Innov8.

Argh! Decisions!

[nerd. @ Aug 12th 2008 7:41AM]

"Uncle Sam's got to get his taste before this thing gets its rumored launch later this month"

You do realise that rumour (and 3's) was subsequently quashed by Nokia who said that the N96 will see a UK release date of 1st October, right?

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/nokia-n96-october-release-date-confirmed-438969