Nokia 6680

[ipodmusicman]

vodacom3g, any news on when this phone is coming to SA? Looks like this phone fixes the shortfalls that the 6630 had - plus more features.

See http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,70878,00.html

[vodacom3g]

Agree, as a longstanding Nokia fan, I'm also drooling....

Have asked and will feed back as soon as I have an answer.

[VQuest]

Oh crumbs, another stunning phone which my grubby little paws won't be able to get hold of for another 24+++++++ months. Vodacom, you're frustrating me!

[alchamy]

Impressive phone, I like the video on the website

[Chris]

Yip, I like the phone also although I still have to wait 14 months till I get upgraded

[alchamy]

Don't worry knowing South Africa the phone will get stuck at network approval for another year atleast, Nokia 6260 was stuck for months before release, Nokia had to let the stock gather dust. (wonder if it is even released yet)

[VQuest]

Don't worry knowing South Africa the phone will get stuck at network approval for another year atleast, Nokia 6260 was stuck for months before release, Nokia had to let the stock gather dust. (wonder if it is even released yet)

I've been waiting for the 6260 for months and months. And no, it hasn't been released yet. ETA is supposed to be by the end of next month. But as things go, who knows.

[alchamy]

Yeah I spoke to Nokia in August and it was delivered in November but the networks wont approve it. According to Nokia atleast.

But you can get it here.... http://www.cacell.co.za/product_info...roducts_id=113

[vodacom3g]

It's obvious that it is in Vodacom's interest to release as many phones as possible. The more choices customers have, the easier they'll buy phones and the more they will call.

So logically, Vodacom will want to release a new phone such as the 6260 as quickly as possible. However the phones must pass a set of stringent tests otherwise you guys, as end users, will complain about poor quality, perceived coverage issues, phones hanging up, etc.

Nearly 500 models have been approved up to now, sometimes with concessions (6260, for example), about 150 models have failed and around 50 are currently under test.

Often a phone must first go back for the manufacturer to upgrade the software or fix some other problem discovered during testing.

The 6260 was recently approved with concessions, so now it must get to the retail channel.

[vodacom3g]

Yip, I like the phone also although I still have to wait 14 months till I get upgraded

You can ask for an 'Early Upgrade', where you pay in some value based on your profile and time left on your current contract.

To get an E1000 with 6 months to go, in one specific case, the upgrade fee was R700.

[onionpeel]

I estimate the delivery of the 6680 to the SA market to be August 2005. I have followed Nokai phones from press release date to the shelves and you can roughly work on 5-6 months if there are no major problems with network testing.

[alchamy]

The 6260 was recently approved with concessions, so now it must get to the retail channel.

Thanks vodacom3g, I hope it hits the market soon, glad to know that its been approved.

[kaspaas]

The 6260 was recently approved with concessions, so now it must get to the retail channel.

Just curious: What kind of concessions are allowed in the approval process of a phone?

It would also be interesting what kind of consumer related tests a phone must pass? Any drop testing etc?

[vodacom3g]

Will have to get the specifics. Will also try and see if I can get the test procedures.

[alchamy]

Yes it will be very interesting to know the test procedure, I am also curious about concessions, it does get a person thinking about possible flaws in a phone. I suspect that the 6600 barely made it through testing considering the number of flaws in the phone.