Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic shows up in FCC with US 3G support

So, here's what's awesome: Nokia's well received 5800 XpressMusic will be making the trip to US soil with US 3G support baked right in. Here's what's just so-so: there's no AT&T logo on the photos, so we're assuming Nokia will only be selling this one here in unlocked, unsubsidized form. Of course, we're just thrilled to know the phone will be making a proper debut in the US of A, but those looking to pick one up will certainly need to expect a lofty price tag.

[Mikes cool @ Dec 20th 2008 8:06AM]

Not as exciting as one of those new N98's but ill take it!

[Highest Ranked @ Dec 20th 2008 8:10AM]

can they please Xpress this to the market place soon... k thanks.

[Mikes cool @ Dec 20th 2008 9:32AM]

I meant the Nokia N97

[Adderz @ Dec 20th 2008 8:20AM]

This phone garners quite some attention a couple of months ago, but it seems to have just dropped off.

Its a nice piece of kit, but as i look through all the previous stories, i cant help but notice the rather dated, cheap looking design. I can easily compare this design with the nokia 2600, and extremely budget canybar, which is also almost identical to the 6220, which is like the 5130 etc etc.

I wish this did become a screaming success, we need a new market within the smartphone market, im sick of the benchmark being the iphone.

If Apple had #00 products like Nokia and Samsung it wouldnt be the benchmark phone.

[Adderz @ Dec 20th 2008 8:29AM]

Sorry about my terrible grammar, i slipped and landed in vodka

[Jimmy Jones @ Dec 20th 2008 8:27AM]

I guess an example of "lofty price tag" will be $1000 on ebay as of this writing...

I'll pass on Nokia's touchscreens.. their phones are nice n all but I don't think it's worth breaking my bank for. Instead I'd rather stick with the majority crowd ....i.e. HTC and not so shabby Samsung... And at least there's a wide range of hacking for Win Mo even though the TouchFlo n TouchWiz magic isn't up to par....

[Adderz @ Dec 20th 2008 8:33AM]

HTC how i love thee.

They should make their own UI from scratch.

I have a HTC touch cruise, and loaded TouchFlo thanks to XDA, but although it was nice...it doesnt use the available space correctly, and isnt all that nice, and underneath it all its still WIndows 6 *sigh*

I clicked the original WIndows keyboard the other day, the buttons are the size of a bees dick *sigh*

HTC have a big slice of the smartphone market, they could develop their own UI and app store and still hold onto their customers if they do it right. Then they can adapt their hardware to suit their software, while not having to pay license fees. Or they could do a Palm and offer Palm OS and WIndows side by side.

/ramble

[Aaron @ Dec 20th 2008 8:42AM]

@ Adderz

My Touch Pro has a really nice-looking UI. IMO the Touch-FLO 3-D works the best on their higher-end phones which they were designed for. Still, the bad thing about HTC phones is that their batteries don't last very long. I'm lucky if I get a couple days without needing to fully charge my phone again; though that's not surprising considering how many radios are in the damn thing.

[Adderz @ Dec 20th 2008 8:47AM]

Well you could consider the Touch Cruise a high end handset, it certainly isnt a lowly Viva or Touch.

I just didnt think it was great usage of the available space, most devices have a standard 2.8 inch screen and with finger friendliness coming in, space is an issue. It boils down to being built on WinMo, with the lovely 1x1 pixel X or OK button, and the almost useless bottom bar, and when you have Manila, how often do you use the Start bar?

I did load TouchFlo 3d (same as Pro and Diamond) it still wasnt THAT great, went bad to 2D...but have now settled on SPB Mobile Shell with a lovely customized theme.

[Sarvesh @ Dec 20th 2008 8:37AM]

Feels good to see Murph write a cellphone article without mentioning thatPhone

[xValentine @ Dec 20th 2008 8:43AM]

The design looks generic.

[iEye #2 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:48AM]

looks like shite to me!

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 20th 2008 8:54AM]

"Here's what's just so-so: there's no AT&T logo on the photos, so we're assuming Nokia will only be selling this one here in unlocked, unsubsidized form."

This is a joke right?

Even though you pay more *upfront* for unlocked and unsubsidized devices compared to locked and subsidized devices on AT&T, you tend to save money over the space of two years because, get ready for it, AT&T's monthly data plan for locked and subsidized devices costs twice as much as the data plan for unlocked/unsubsidized devices even though they offer the same exact data speeds and reliability (or lack thereof).

That's why a $200 iPhone costs more than an unlocked $500 Nokia.

More information: http://www.howardforums.com/showpost.php?p=12042788&postcount=1010

[Adderz @ Dec 20th 2008 8:58AM]

Thats America for you, the land where everything is "get now, pay later"

Australia isnt THAT bad yet, but i always calculate the costs of "renting" and subsidized things and laugh when i see the numbers.

[Dale @ Dec 20th 2008 10:18AM]

Locked or unlocked, I would rather have no carrier logo on my phone anyway. Uglynastygross.

[Shugg @ Dec 20th 2008 9:04AM]

Curious ,who buying this here in the states,,,?????$550 who,who??thought so

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 20th 2008 9:11AM]

The better question is: who is buying this when they could get a far better phone and experience with the E71 (and an iPod Touch wifi-tethered with JoikuSpot Light)?

Unless this phone is priced at $300 or less, I don't see it making very many waves in America. The E71 is just too damn good.

[iEye #2 @ Dec 20th 2008 9:21AM]

E71 is the best of the swill out there...

and the price is ludicrous.... the case looks like it is one step up from a dollar store toy...

This phone just screams "I AM A TURD!"

[Jimmy Jones @ Dec 20th 2008 9:24AM]

Some gadget lovers who can't resist the love of showing off their little addiction... pple who buy phones like this are usually trying to show it off and not necessarily interested in getting the most out of it...

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 20th 2008 9:49AM]

Well, I would much rather show off my E71 than this phone. It looks (and I'm sure it feels) a hell of a lot better than this clunker.

[bdotwoods @ Dec 20th 2008 10:15AM]

If i was still 16 I'd be pushing for it over the e71... apparently people are just now getting into the touchscreen phase (not i.. that came and went in 05-06, lol).

But yea for where i am now, i'll keep what i have and wait for the 97.

[Anthony @ Dec 20th 2008 12:05PM]

I have both the E71 & the 5800. They're different phones for different needs. I actually like the 5800 design & (@ 350) it's a relative bargain. Now people buying on eBay for 500 are paying too much. If it had 5mp camera instead of 3.2 I'd be happier. But results are okay.

The E71 is heavy & solid. The 5800 does have some creaking but it's light & feels like the stop-gap it was designed to be (I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing).

Stop by a Nokia store of find a friend w/ one. You might be surprised. I'm enjoying it & have had virtually all other N & E phones.

[zephxiii @ Dec 20th 2008 9:37AM]

Me want.

[Moody @ Dec 20th 2008 10:19AM]

Seems a bit pricey...it goes for €250-299 (before taxes, unlocked) in "euroland".

[ILoveApple @ Dec 20th 2008 10:45AM]

Please name one phone that you can get for that price unlocked, unbranded, brand new, from a brick and mortar store and with all the features that the 5800 does including the 2 year warranty.

[lauri.smith @ Dec 20th 2008 10:33AM]

If the flagship stores in US were selling a limited number of the european 3G model for $350 I doubt the US 3G model will cost more than that.

[ILoveApple @ Dec 20th 2008 10:43AM]

Exactly.

[Suomaa @ Dec 20th 2008 10:48AM]

If it costs 340€ inc. 22% VAT here in Finland I guess that it costs around $350. FCC's photos are always ugly.

[Austin @ Dec 20th 2008 11:59AM]

Questions about Unlocked Cell Phones...

Can anyone tell me if with a Nokia phone that supports flash whether that means I really open every type of web page like on your PC with IE?

What does it take to be able to play internet radio, like Slacker or download movies and music from Amazon and Walmart directly from your phone? Does that require the phone to have additional software to support that or does it require the website to offer some mobile version of their software that is available on PCs?

Also, with unlocked phones, does that mean you can use the wifi feature and gps feature without the need to purchase a data plan from the cell phone provider? In other words, I can just pay for the cheapest monthly voice only service if that's what I want and still have access to all the phone's feature set, is that correct?

I know without a data plan I won't get access to 3G, but I was told that when you buy phones from carriers with a built in wi-fi receiver, the wi-fi won't work unless you have the data plan, is that correct?

Thanks in advance.

[Al @ Dec 20th 2008 1:53PM]

Yes, it supports flash. It will load slower though, since the flash takes time to render.

Internet Radio is built into the Radio client.
Movies/mp3s from Walmart or Amazon would require software that doesn't exist.

You are free to use the wifi and GPS as you see fit. You can install torrent or peer to peer apps on the 5800 or use Garmin Mobile for voice navigation. A data plan is not required to use those features, although it is highly recommended.

At&t data plans for unlocked phones are $15 and optional, not $30 and enforced like other phones.

[De @ Dec 20th 2008 2:13PM]

The phone does support flash but it would not work 100% for every site as it only uses flash lite and not the the full flash. I don't have a nokia phone now but i think it comes with an internet radio application (never used it) . It is possible to download things through the browser but i have never tried to buy something pay for something on my phone.

Yes you would be able to use any gsm mobile plan you want.(even your current one). You can also use wifi without a data plan. This is possible with any phone that that has wifi.

[Bbroy @ Dec 20th 2008 4:25PM]

@AI

Can you tell me where to find the att data plan for $15? Because I can't find it on att's website.

[bachviet @ Dec 21st 2008 12:40AM]

@ Bbroy

Unlimited MediaNet plan (w/ voice plan of course): $15

[FILA @ Dec 20th 2008 4:28PM]

come on T-Mobile adopt this, it would be perfect. your a big Nokia carrier anyways

[redline @ Dec 20th 2008 5:02PM]

im guessing it'll cost around $350 since that's how much I paid for the european version with US warranty i ordered by phone from the nokia flagship store in chicago