Nokia N70 - How long has it been around? Anyone Rate/Slate it?

richardsimkiss

Now i've read a few reviews and pretty keen on this phone... I'm hoping to haggle myself a pretty good new deal with orange, but having waited a few months for some decent new release phones i'm getting very impatient and want to sort something out in the next few days.

So has anyone got this phone? anything particularly annoying about it?

I know it was release in the 2nd Quarter of 2005 but wondering when it was first available through networks on contracts? Or does anyone with orange empliyee links know of any decent phones coming out soon...

Ideally after something stylish and with a decent camera (decent in mobile terms, 1.3 megapixel upwards)

mike_wall15

It's a nice phone, one of the best Nokia's around. I would say it was first available in oct/nov on contracts. I be careful about buying it on Orange because they will have their own software on it which could ruin it's features, just like the 6680.
If you buy it from O2 then it'll be unlocked and will have the Nokia software, a must if you ask me.

Mike

GordonH_2

Te software for it would not work. This is a known fault. It also mapped a virtual serial port onto my USB which caused the destruction of my wifes MP3 player.

probably OK as a phone but not as part of an integrated information system.

seaniboy

avoid at all costs - orang software

socmwils23

Can someone explain what this Orange software is and how it differs to the other networks version of the same phone?

My other half has a 6680 on Orange and loves it with no apparent problems. Is there something we are missing here?

Was looking at the N70 on Orange myself as it was any tarriff with the phone for free. Also had the added benefit of 6 months half price line rental. That to me is a fantastic deal given the price the other networks are charging. Maybe that is due to this "software issue" so if anyone could explain the issues id be most grateful so i can make a decision whether to get it or not.

Mark1977

When operators sell phones they often put there own branded software on it - Orange are one of the worst offenders of this. While branded software in itself isnt usually a problem, the software overwrites the original Nokia (or whatever manufacturer software) is on the phone - thus it usually creates an akward and un-friendly experience.

Problems often found with branded Orange phones are: removed functionality of the phone (so in effect you are getting a cut down version of the phone), buggy operator software, branded startup/shutdown screens, branded icons in menus and often reduced performance of the phone. Altogether it adds up to a horrible user experience.

02 usually only brand the startup nad shutdown screens - leaving the main software of the phone untouched. T-Mobile brand the startup/shutdown and sometimes the icons. Orange and Vodafone usually brand the whole phone to kingdom come.

You can get unbranding packs for phones which usually includes a CD (with flashing software on) and a serial or data cable - but if the flashing goes wrong - its a dead phone. There are places that unbrand and delock phones phones in one go - so if you are unhappy with the branding/restrictions that your operator has placed on the phone you can rectify it. Although this does add onto the price of the handset!

Hope that helps!

jimmyjim_uk

Mark1977 wrote:

There are places that unbrand and delock phones phones in one go - so if you are unhappy with the branding/restrictions that your operator has placed on the phone you can rectify it

Like the 6630/6680, the N70 can only be unlocked by the network. Some people are having difficulty getting codes from Vodafone and 3 networks, me included.

Another thing to note is that the charger for the N70 has a different connection jack. So no more can I borrow your Nokia charger when round a friends house.

MORPH3US

jimmyjim_uk wrote:

Like the 6630/6680, the N70 can only be unlocked by the network. Some people are having difficulty getting codes from Vodafone and 3 networks, me included.

Another thing to note is that the charger for the N70 has a different connection jack. So no more can I borrow your Nokia charger when round a friends house.

I got my 6280 yesterday from 3 and they have their own software on it. Gone are the traditional nokia games and start up screens, at least I got Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, but I also got that stupid bar across the bottom of the screen permanently - very annoying but they are trying to sell their downloads and stuff so i'll have to live with it until I can get rid of it!

I know what you mean about the chargers too, I stayed with Nokia because I thought my old car charger would fit the new phone, phone arrives and it is a much smaller size, gutted!!!

BTW Jimmy, is it 3 or Voda you can't get your unlock code from?! I would like mine from 3 but how long do you have to have the phone for / how much do they make you pay?

M

jimmyjim_uk

Its 3 I can't get the unlock code from (its for a 6680). I have just written a letter (yesterday in fact) to the executive office asking for a reason why.

If you are still in contract, 3 will charge in region of £220, if out of contract £15. If you do ask and they say Nokia have the unlock code they are lying.

I have an email from Nokia confirming that they have no part in the unlocking process of handsets, a copy went with my letter.

MORPH3US

jimmyjim_uk wrote:

Its 3 I can't get the unlock code from (its for a 6680). I have just written a letter (yesterday in fact) to the executive office asking for a reason why.

If you are still in contract, 3 will charge in region of £220, if out of contract £15. If you do ask and they say Nokia have the unlock code they are lying.

I have an email from Nokia confirming that they have no part in the unlocking process of handsets, a copy went with my letter.

Let me know how you get on mate. 3 can be right w@n*ers sometimes hey?

Won't re-flashing it / updating the firmware unlock it?!?

Good luck anyway!

M

sockpuppetuk

I have one and think the phone is great .. mine was on O2 so minimal branding (I flashed it with a totally unbranded firmware even so) and unlocked.
Flashing the phone will not unlock it, as mentioned elsewhere only the network can unlock BB5 phones and they will prob be the only ones for some time to come.
Flashing the firmware cannot be done without specialised hardware .. but if you are using a Orange sim in the phone I cannot see a problem using Orange firmware .. its there for the user to get round the Orange network after all, it would be a different matter if it could be unlocked and used with a O2 sim or whatever.

As for 3 charging a large amount to unlock the phone while still in contract .. again, what's the problem? they have subsidised the cost of that phone against you being on the network for 12/18 months .. why should they pay for you to use the phone on another network? .. thats what you would be doing .. once the contract is up and they have covered the cost of the handset and made a bit of money out of you then fine .. £15 is a fair price.