Best Network to but the N95 from?

Don't know about the networks (live in Norway) but I can comment the "maps on memory card...":
- How big is the microSD card they are supplying? If it's a 512Mb or 1GB card there is big chance that you quite soon will need a larger one if you're planning to use phone for music, videos and photos as well as for maps. A 512Mb/1GB card won't get you far...
- MicroSD cards are quite cheap today. I recently bought a 4GB card from Amazon for 60$ so if O2 include one of thoose mentioned above it's of minor value for you...
- Maps can be loaded directly (and free of charge) to any memory card using a PC and the Nokia MapLoader application (which can be downloaded from nokia.com).

=> So, it's basically down to this: If they include a larger card (2 or 4GB) fine. If not there ain't much of a 'value add'.

Its not so much about initial cost, but working out whats best for you.

First thing - Cehck to see if everyone does decent coverage in your area. Theres no point going with orange if the signal is spotty where you are.

Next, get your usage right. It should be easy to work out how many texts and minutes you need per month.

Obviously, the lower the monthly payments, the more the phone will cost.

Its not worth getting a N95 for free if the contract costs you �40 and you dont use half of it.

It could even be better you buying one simfree and getting another phone on contract, and selling that to help fund the N95.

Purely from a branding and simlock point of view I think O2 is best. I've had three phones from them over the years and none were branded or simlocked.

hi,

I got my N95 off CPW on a O2 contract...

But I didn't get no free memory card, to be honest not much point, as these are cheap and unless they give you anything in the 2Gb to 4Gb range not much use, as previously posted by Superswede.

I paid, 35ukp for the phone + 35ukp per month for 300 mins and 250 txts. And got a 6 month double txt message bonus, so 500 txts per month for 6 months, no xtra charge... This is all on a 12 month contract. This was about 1 1/2 to 2 months ago...

BTW vodafone run a "crippled" custom firmware on the N95, I think (but will be corrected if wrong 😉 ) they still remove the SIP stuff (internet calls)?

But I'm pretty sure you can remove the branding by changing the phones product code and a firmware flash. I did this to my O2 phone, to have a "pure" N95, ie: no branding firmware crap....

Hope this helps and gives you a bit of a reference point to start haggling.

ut.

I chose T-mobile because they have the best 3.5G coverage, the best data plans (I have W'n'W �7.50) and you can lower your tarriff after 6 months (at least I can but check it out it's still on offer!)
Their customer service has been remarkeably good, billing has been accurate and prompt, all round ok!

ut666 wrote:hi,

I got my N95 off CPW on a O2 contract...

But I didn't get no free memory card, to be honest not much point, as these are cheap and unless they give you anything in the 2Gb to 4Gb range not much use, as previously posted by Superswede.

I paid, 35ukp for the phone + 35ukp per month for 300 mins and 250 txts. And got a 6 month double txt message bonus, so 500 txts per month for 6 months, no xtra charge... This is all on a 12 month contract. This was about 1 1/2 to 2 months ago...

BTW vodafone run a "crippled" custom firmware on the N95, I think (but will be corrected if wrong 😉 ) they still remove the SIP stuff (internet calls)?

But I'm pretty sure you can remove the branding by changing the phones product code and a firmware flash. I did this to my O2 phone, to have a "pure" N95, ie: no branding firmware crap....

Hope this helps and gives you a bit of a reference point to start haggling.

ut.

I had heard Vodafona had crippled their N95; are there any other network restrcitions anyone is aware of, for example effecting wi-fi?

i dont know about tmobile, tmobile are pretty good as far as i know...
but orange and vodaphone are pretty bad, i think orange lock their phones to orange only sims (which is annoyin if your mates phone runs out of battery and he asks to use yours) and vodaphones brand their phones...

i do however know o2 are a good bet because the two phones ive had on contract from o2 i got debranded so it was if i had bought the phone off the nokia website for ridiculous amounts of moneys... but i hadnt, i had got it free on contract... so my recomendation is first of all learn more about tmobile, and then rate it against o2...

I might be slightly bias as I work for 3. I've been using the N95 on our network for a few months now and it's finally available for sale to customers!

T-mobile currently have the best 3.5G coverage but this will change from next month onwards, the only network with the infrastructure already in place is 3 so without major investment and a lot of time, no other network will come close, certainly until 2009 at the earliest.

3 also have an unlimited internet package (subject to the same fair usage as t-mobile) but it only costs �5 instead of the �7.50.

At the end of the day it'll come down to the sales package on offer as much as anything so as long as you're happy with your choice it's all a matter of personal preference after that.

Enjoy the N95 when you get it!