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Nokia N95 on Orange and Voda * Beware * |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Some interesting news. You may already be aware, But incase you not and thinking of buying a Nokia N95.
Orange and Vodafone cripple Nokia's flagship
Nokia N95 handsets supplied by Orange and Vodafone, in the UK, have had their VoIP capability removed in what looks like a desperate move by the network operators to defend their voice revenue.
Each operator has their own variant of the software pre-installed on a phone handset to allow them to pre-load branding or particular applications they want to promote. But Orange and Vodafone have both taken this one step further with the N95 and actually removed the VoIP capability built in to the handset.
What this means is that nicely integrated applications such as Truphone won't work at all, even though the client appears to install OK the menus and configuration needed to make VoIP calls just aren't there.
Truphone have put together a nice comparison video, showing what's missing. Stand-alone VoIP applications, such as Fring, still work as they don't require integration, though because of that they don't offer such a compelling user experience.
In some ways this is entirely unsurprising: the network operator is subsidising the handset, and so limits the handset to their voice network. Customers have got used to subsidised handsets being locked to one network, so this could be seen as a simple extension of that policy, and there is nothing to stop a customer buying an unlocked (and unsubsidised) handset.
It is, as James Tagg from Truphone puts it "a removal of customer choice", and it's hard not to see a parallel with the way network operators tried to limit WAP browsing to their own walled gardens - back when the industry thought WAP was going to make money.
Vodafone is saying nothing beyond confirming that the functionality has been removed.
Orange told us that this was not a policy decision and that future handsets might, or might not, have VoIP enabled.
Neither company attempted to justify their decision, beyond some bleating about keeping things simple for customers, so we are left to conclude that this is just a protectionist measure.
The problem here is that Nokia advertise the N95 as being VoIP-capable, but the version being sold by Vodafone and Orange isn't, so some customer confusion is only to be expected. Trading Standards tell us that anyone who bought an N95 from Orange or Vodafone, on the understanding that it is VoIP-capable, should talk to Consumer Direct about possible recourse,
Info found at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/18/n95_crippled/
Vodafone response:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/19/vodafone_explains/ |
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voda_jon
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: > 500
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these little stories and reviews always make me laugh lol...
they always use the word 'cripple' as if voda and orange have removed the biggest feature of the phone and rendered it completely useless!!!
All they have done is rule out ppl using SIP profiles on the handset... nothin else.
To me (by the way i dont work for either company!) it seems logical to remove a feature that the majority of users (dont forget us techy ppl r still a minority) dont have a clue what VOIP or Internet Phone is... This would cause numerous phone calls to the network regarding how and what this feature is which in turn costs money...
Everyone is harking on about how it must b because they dont want to lose money on standard calls... How can this be??? As soon as free wifi spots or completely unlimited gprs tarifs are available the VOIP service cannot be a clear threat to any phone company...
Plus its not on the calls that these companies make their money! Its on the other services u pay for like Data, sms, downloads and a few other things lol...
Thats jus my honest opinion on this as it annoys me ppl and news sites and review sites blurtin on how these companies are crippling phones yet the majority of users wouldnt use this feature if it was present and it isnt even a huge feature of the phone! |
Dogmann
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: London England
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Hi all,
Actually trying to configure and set up a SIP service is not that easy IMO unless you of course know what you are doing as Jon pointed out just how many users do you really think could do that. It is one of the things that makes Fring so good as it is all done for you and even in that article they mention it. Of course the Networks would rather you make calls on their Network as opposed to any other method but that should hardly be a surprise as they do subsidise the cost.
Marc
Blackberry Bold, V4.6.0.214, 8GB SDHC, Pin2553F455
Honoured to have Won Best Debater for the 2nd Year |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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The question is though.
Why should Orage and Vodafone stop you from using these services.
We live in a Technology era but no sorry Voda and orange want you to use there services etc.
o2 and T-mobile dont mind, so thats more business there way
1) Orange and Voda both lost Millions of customers last year (Yes they lost more than what they gained
2) Orange has recenlty been on Watchdog twice recently for crap customer care and I will second that. I was with Orange for 7 years and th last year they are shocking, Billing incorrect. Orange blocked my bank account due to error and I can go on an on.
There phones look like a child has drawn the screen and Im sorry I dont appreciate that I should always have to use there services.
3) In a recent pole Orange and Voda came out at the bottom for customer care agian for the 2nd time.
4) On Orange I dont appreciate being called a Rabbit, Gerbal, Shark or what ever stupid name they give to there Tarrifs. Sorry I was born Human not a Monkey!!
5) Orange and Voda subsidise there handset, well o2 and t-mobile do so that shouldnt make any difference.
since Moving to O2 I have not been as happy, There customer care is superb. Phone is answered in 15 seconds. I havnt had any problems, I get loads and loads of freebies, 10 times more then i ever got with Orange. The shops are fantastic and dont treat you like an animal.
I can say the same for t-mobile, Customer care has greatly improved and the webnwalk service they offer is awesom, fair play to them.
So millions of customer left Orange and Voda where did they go.
Well O2 is now the largest network, T-mobile and then Voda and Orange.
What a turnaround from when Voda and Orange used to be the largest. !!
Any way I can go on but i wont.
For people who have pucrahsed a Orange and Voda and want to use the service
I have found this:
I havn got a N95 so please dont quote me on it and use it at your own risk.
But here you go.
Debranding your phone
Posted Friday 20th April 2007 16:52 GMT
You can flash your phone with generic software by following the instructions on this website
http://thenokiablog.com/2007/[....]duct-codes-and-language-packs/
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Dogmann
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: London England
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Hi Darren ,
I agree with nearly all you say and if you want to take it a bit further both Voda and Orange sell their customers broadband which makes it even weirder IMO. But Orange who where once the best Network and won the JD Power customer surveys every year are no longer the company they were under Hans Snook. As for Voda well i have never liked them so no comment. Last year i think you will find T-Mobile gained a large majority of the churned customers IMO mainly due to Web N Walk and there value for money Flext plans. Currently only T-Mobile and 3 have decent Data charges and although 02 will shortly have a £10 Data plan to compete this is only available for £35pm+ spends. Even Vodafone Data price plans are still to high IMHO.
Marc
Blackberry Bold, V4.6.0.214, 8GB SDHC, Pin2553F455
Honoured to have Won Best Debater for the 2nd Year |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Hi Doggman.
I completley agree with you. However Orange and vodafone dont seem to care about there customers at present.
Orange keep going on saying that they are retraining everybody and they are getting an infux of calls.
If things went right in the first place they wouldnt be in this mess. They mess round with there phones which causes 80% of the problems. I know from people who work at Orange, dont have orange phones. They hate them. They have also said since FT took over its gone completely down the pan. Higher management dont seem to be interested or they seem to have lost control.
Customer are stamping hard and so far I have swicthed 10 friends and family over from Orange to O2 in a month and more to follow.
(Word of mouth is way better than a fancy together advert).
Orange Magic numbers only work with people on the same network !! Well thats not good then as people are leaving them, other customers follow!!
and now 2 year contracts, whats on earth are they playing at.
Im just waiting for o2 to bring there new data tarriffs out. which i'm not sure if they will be like t-mobile, but im hoping they are going to be better than the current ones.
Oh and heres the latest in the news.
Orange and Vodafone, The two giants are clearly flouting EU law, he said. "We're being blocked at the network level and at the device level."
So orange and voda are breaking the eu law and people still want a phone from them. !! Your choice now. This is why people cant get through on the phones to Orange as the are complaining all the time.
Oh and the Nokia E61 has been crippled too !!
Full story here
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/18/voip_wars_head_for_ofcom/
[ This Message was edited by: darrengf on 2007-04-21 21:22 ] |
voda_jon
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: > 500
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the comment about the e61 is funny as i have a voda branded one and have been using it for a year now and have for the last 2mths been using the Internet Telephone Option on the phone (Vodafone Firmware and this app was already on the phone!!!) with my voipstunt account and not had any problems...
i just find it very very funny wen ppl and companies say another company has crippled a phone by removing 1 small feature that wont b used by the majority of customers purchasing this handset!
If voda/orange had removed somethin like the camera feature or sms or web then yes they would have crippled the phone as these are major features but internet telephone (VOIP) isnt!
J.
J. |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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The problem voda_jon
Orange and voda have not only removed the feature but removed the function to allow it to be placed back on and used.
The other problem is that Nokia are selling the N95 on using VOIP. So yes its crippled the phone.
Nokia now will have to reword there adverts.
The new nokia N95 with VOIP function.
Sorry Orange and Voda cant have this feature!!
Another problem.
Its ok to remove the feature but not allowing it to go back on is against EU law. So not only have they crippled the phone but they are breaking the law *According to the website that i have mentioned.
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voda_jon
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: > 500
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fring... that allows the voip funcionality back onto the handset...
Vodafone and Orange have huge legal departments that look into everything law wise before a decision is made... they are not stupid enough to break EU laws or any countries law by removing a certain feature...
If u take a look at both Orange and Vodafones selling material for the N95 i bet u there is no mention of any VOIP features.... plus if u check Nokias T&C's or small print they also mention that any feature is network dependant and territory dependant and may not work etc etc...
Another little feature that most UK networks remove is PTT or Push To Talk... This feature has been removed by many UK networks for years but has never been a big issue OR been illegal in ANY WAY! |
P1i
Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 9
From: London
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A damn good reason to purchase a sim free N95 if it's the phone for you. |
masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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considering how easy it is to debrand I don't think its a must to buy sim free if this voip is something a buyer wants to use
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Daedalus85
Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: > 500
From: Suffolk, UK
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O2 also give you a free 1GB memory card with all the UK maps on it so you don't have to spend a fortune downloading them OTA.
Only in O2 shops tho, not at third party places (CPW, P4U etc). |
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Posted: 2007-04-20 22:10
