31 July 2008

Free 3G Part III:
Nokia Quietly Unleashes A New 'Nam War!

Do you consider a device unlocked and sim-free if it only fully works on one carrier's network? And if it only works on one carrier's network, why isn't that network heavily subsidising it? If the device only offers full functionality on a single network, and not the entire US 3G GSM network, why is it called an American model, and not identified for the supported carrier's network instead?

It's obviously intended to market the device in an unscrupulous and deceptive manner. Since GSM came to American shores, its been touted as the standard to ensure compatibility across multiple networks.

Supposedly, any unlocked sim-free device would work on any other network. Like most people, I bought into this ideal, even thought CDMA was technologically superior, and its carriers were further along in adopting 3G, I never looked back. Network cross compatibility and greater device choice was too big a gift to turn down.

Whenever I saw a GSM phone I liked, I ordered it unlocked and sim-free for my own free use. There were certain frequencies needed for American use, but it always was easy to choose a GSM device, regardless of which GSM carrier you chose. That's what unlocked used to mean to American customers. Now there are basically semi-unlocked, 3G branded devices deceptively described as unlocked. Nokia's American GSM 3G smartphone devices don't work on certain American GSM carriers! Huh?!? Exactly what I thought.

The Sprint Instinct, Apple iPhone and Verizon MotoQ only fully work on their respective networks, and no other networks, but aren't called unlocked American models. They're advertised as branded, network locked models, heavily subsidised by the carrier. No one is fooled about that. So why is Nokia so intent on not being forthcoming about its US versions?

What, exactly, is a North American, or NAM, Nokia 3G model? Its definitely not one suitable for all American GSM customers! They conveniently fail to warn T-Mobile customers that buying a NAM device will make sure they never see a 3G signal anywhere on the planet unless they switch to at&t, or move to Canada, Mexico, or South America. It'd be more advantageous for T-MobileUSA customers to choose the European model, since they'd have the choice of the rest of the globe's 3G services, even their own carrier's European T-Mobile network, a much larger footprint!

It's somewhat fitting that the American at&t 3G models have the NAM designation. Much like the 60's and 70's, when America was reluctantly at war with Vietnam, 'NAM is a word that should conjure up bad feelings. Though not so obvious without looking closely, Nokia has waged its own war, and unleashed a new NAM upon unaware American customers. Consumers, robbed of device and carrier choice, and T-MobileUSA, probably America's best GSM and only global carrier, are forced to stand in the cold with this fiasco. The N95VietNAM, N95 8gbVietNAM, N78VietNAM, E71VietNAM, and upcoming N85VietNAM , model names I find more appropriate, should be eyed with more scrutiny and suspicion.

Whether content creators or corporate executives, professionals have driven the growth of the global smartphone market. Today's professional depends upon his or her device, and today's device depends upon it's mobile broadband connection. At home, there can be alternatives to connectivity, like wifi or USB. Abroad, alternatives may not exist, so mobile broadband becomes much more important for the international business traveller.

Nokia should be ashamed for releasing separate North American versions as they're currently constructed. These should not be called NAM, but War Crime Editions. Americans have been confused, mislead, and done a disservice. These models greatly and unfairly cripple the American business user. Today's American market shows a great need for true worldphones. European models come close. American models are carrier specific, and sadly miss the mark. Someone forgot to tell Nokia these are mobile phones, not local phones.

So being the dissident, controversial person I am, today I'll be putting away my hip hop collection, favoring some classic 60's and 70's rock music to get into character, only don't expect hugs, folk songs about love, peace signs, and flowers. With Jimi Hendrix and Terry Reid playing in the background, my fist held up high, militant mindset totally ready, I'll be staging a heated protest against Nokia in this new 'NAM war!

Until I see change, I'll be continuously demanding open global 3G for all users, open American 3G on all unlocked devices, and an end to deceptive and misleading practices specially designed to fool Americans and control their carrier and device choices! Otherwise I'll move on to an OEM willing to serve the hungry and underserved American marketplace with more fairness, because for all Nokia's efforts to make Symbian open source, they've had too much control over American's mobile broadband choices. I'm taking that control back!

So what do you think? Is a device unlocked without multicarrier network support? Feel free to voice your opinion as well, and post a response, as well as participate in the ongoing poll!