Release dates - So whats the word on the grape vine?

No-one seems to be talking about the 6280? Its like the black sheep of the family now that the N70 has been released.

So come on, I know there must be a few more fans out there, it can't just be me can it???

So thought I'd start this thread to get things going. Any info, or just general gossip, please post it here . . . .

[Ben]

Well, it's definitely in the Vodafone Christmas lineup, and it's Series 40 so the networks can't butcher it as much as they do the Series 60 ones. I'd imagine we'll be seeing the 6280 on most networks by the end of November I think it'll be very much targeted at the Christmas market - and it should sell well.

[Hands0n]

@Trix - Hiya and welcome to Talk3G. Good topic and glad you started it off.

I am anxiously waiting for the 6280 to be relased on any/all of the networks. I'm currently on 3G with 3 and a 6680, very happy with that now. I also have an Orange 2G contract which expired a few days back so now I'm treading water waiting for them to release the 6280.

The word is that the 6280 will be out with the networks in December 2005. Its cutting it really fine to get in for the Christmas rush. Then its really down to who has the best tariff for my purposes.

The Nokia website has lots to look at while waiting in eager anticipation.

I was thinking the same thing myself, that they are gona release it during the Christmas rush.

Went into my local 'Link' a few days ago and asked if phone shops have Jan sales or not??? (because Im suspicious that they prob hike their prices up while everyone one is panic buying for prezzies, and then lower them again in Jan when people have more time and sense to look at the costs and wot sort of deal they're getting) Anyway, he said they dont drop their prices in Jan, but who's to say he's telling the truth?

Should I be worried? Or is it just my suspicious nature?

[Hands0n]

Can't say that I particularly trust Link, P4U or CPW - all of the big dealer-types (but that is purely my personal opinion). I would advise having a natter with your local small dealer, see what they can offer at the time.

The Christmas Rush is where its at this time of year, the mobops are all ramping up for the next couple of months of trading. Notice that the TV ads are gaining momentum. After Christmas it all drops back to BAU - the offers continue with minor pruning adjustments along the way.

But I don't think they can afford to jack up the prices - check out the network offers also - as there is so much competition, not the least from 3's extraordinary voice tariffs.

My advice, as you asked , is to be very discerning - take the time to research all of the offers but beware of the cashback deals. For those make sure the company is large enough to likely be around for the life of your contract with them.

[Hands0n]

Expansys are taking pre-orders for the 6280 - so I'd imagine that it is getting closer .... http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=123637

No pricing as yet though.

[solo12002]

Whats the point in buying a non 3G mobile at this stage with all or most of the networks now live?

[Ben]

The 6280 is 3G. I think it could be a big one, not least because all the networks are live.

[Hands0n]

Some more eye candy for Trix and anyone else interested in the forthcoming Nokia 6280 albeit from an article much earlier this year ..... Interesting reasing nonetheless.

Nokia used its primary annual Asian media event today to fend off increasingly stylish competition from local manufacturers. The company launched four new slider handsets, including its most advanced CDMA phone yet, and a dual-camera 3G device.

All four slide models use a buffed-up version of the aging Series 40 user interface, version 3. This adds eye candy and a new "Active Standby" home screen, and also supports applications written to Macromedia Flash Lite.

Link --> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06...nnection_2005/

That last bit is interesting also because of this article --> https://talk3g.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1702 . Possibility of being at the front end of yet more exciting developments on handset content? Who knows.

The 6280 is a WCDMA/EDGE handset with a 2 megapixel camera and a VGA front camera for video calls, a removable mini-SD card, and a radio.

Radio? Are we getting that here in the UK?? The Nokia website says it has "Visual Radio"...... I was intrigued.

Google says

Visual Radio is a Nokia proprietary streaming technology for Symbian smartphones. It is not audio streaming: some phones that are already equiped with analog FM radio (notably the Nokia 3230) come with the Visual Radio client that is used to stream SMIL-based data to the phone while the user listens to analog FM radio. ...

Although that name seems to be in the centre of a bit of a bunfight in a non-3G related discussion on Wikipedia. To digress for a moment;

Visual Radio began in 1995 - it is a national TV program hosted by international rock journalist Joe Viglione. Someone keeps vandalizing and molesting this Wikipedia page, allegedly on behalf of Nokia/Hewlett Packard, who are allegedly trying to steal the name by "eminent domain". it is pathetic when a major corporation attempts to steal intellectual property of a hard working journalist/writer because they don't have one ounce of their own creativity. ............

Full article here --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Radio

Yet more information on Visual Radio can be found here;

Visual Radio is intended to enhance traditional FM radio, by adding interactive content over the mobile phone network. Data can include images and text - supplying listeners with Visual Radio handsets with extra data including news, music, travel, sport and extras.

Article link here --> http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/visualradio.html

All of this does not make it any easier to wait though!

itch, itch, scratch, scratch ........

[Chewy]

From the "3" website....the following comes from an announcement of 4 new phones coming out soon on their network.

Nokia 6280
The compact Nokia 6280 is the first mass market 3G Nokia handset to go on sale in the UK. Equipped with a 2 megapixel camera, the compact and technically advanced Nokia 6280 supports 3’s full range of communications and entertainment content and services. The Nokia 6280 will be available across the UK from November.

Now obviously FROM November could mean anytime from the 1st Nov till the 30th....I just hope it's earlier rather than later, and def not "LATE" !!!!!

HandsOn - Thanks 4 all the info, the visual radio looks v cool!

Chewy - Wow, thats the 1st time Ive heard a release date thats norrowed down 2 a specific month and not just which quarter its due in

Looks like we wont have to much longer to wait

Hey, what are U guys gona choose network wise, or is is it just a case of whateva comes along 1st?

Because I was planning on waiting for 3 as they do such good deals, but when I said this 2 my mate at the wknd she almost laughed me out the room. Said there's a reason they are so cheap, the network coverage is REALLY bad, and U get wot U pay 4?

Is it really that bad?

[Chewy]

I don't know how good/bad their coverage is 1st hand, but from the people i've spoken to, they've not had problems. I've looked at their coverage map and where I live has full availablility for video calls. At the moment I'm with O2 and their map shows no 3G coverage in my area.

Looks like I'll go with 3 cos their deals are good. Won't go with Voda cos they cost too much. I NEED loads of free messages or I'll be paying a small fortune every month. The only 2 networks that offer loads of free txts are O2 and 3...

[Ben]

Well, the way I see it is:

Value ---------- Quality
Three ---------- Vodafone

I also believe it's pointless getting a Symbian device on a network that restricts data access and charges £45 to use the handset as a modem. However, I am not everyone, and for some 3-4 million customers Three's value works out just fine.

Anyway, you have 14 days to cancel if you realise your network choice was ill informed.

[Chewy]

The 2 things that disappoint me with 3 is that you have to pay £5 a month to send/receive emails...now i'm unsure about this as I check my emails a few times a day on o2...I only check the headers, unless there's something I recognise may be important then I download the email. Would I have to pay the £5 a month to do this?

The other thing is, I believe the handsets come with Opera installed on them...? Yet you can't get full access to the internet...only selected sites!! I aint paying for a limited service! you should get full access!

I'll still probably go with 3 tho...good value and Premiership goals only a £5 a month...

[Hands0n]

@Trix - I'm already with 3 (Nokia 6680) and Orange (Motorola A1000 - ex-3 unlocked and debranded).

I'll most likely go with Vodafone this time round, replacing Orange, for a Nokia 6280 - and keep my 3 contract with the 6680 (possibly "upgrading" to a newer handset, p'raps the N70 if they're giving it away free with upgrade via Retentions).

In terms of network - you really have to try this out for yourself. Get a 6280 on 3 by all means and check out the coverage in your area of living, working and playing. If you are in any way not satisfied within the 14 days back it to them sharpish or you'll be stuck with the 12 month contract. This bit is really, really important! Use your 14 days to thoroughly check out that you have a viable 3G signal where you're likely to use it. The 3 network is getting better all of the time, but there are spots that are totally dire!

That said, 3 are rolling out new transmitter masts all over the country. I'm in North Kent and have to say that I get a great 100% signal for most of the area I travel around (all of Kent, East Sussex and the edges of Surrey occasionally). I do find that when going into London it can be a bit flaky in places - i.e. Tower Hill is the pits for 3's 3G signal in my personal experience.

Other stuff

Internet - 3 operate what is called a "Walled Garden" and that means no wholesale Internet access. Well, that was true until about a month ago. Now you have two forms of Internet access. The £5 a month Mobile Web gives you access to strictly limited web pages (see 3's website for details). For a mere £45 a month on top of your contract fee they will provide you with "Wireless Web" which gives you unfettered access to the Internet, using your mobile handset as a 3G modem for your laptop computer/PDA etc. If this is important to you bear it in mind, as it will affect what you ultimately pay to 3.

eMail - For another £5 a month you can "Add eMail" to your service which allows you to retrieve your eMail from non 3mail servers. You are allowed to transfer up to 50MBytes a month under their fair use policy.

More food for thought. The above all pretty much goes for whichever network you go for. Make use of the 14-day period to jettison whomever you choose. Don't fall for any smoothy sales patter to encourage you to go beyond the 14 days - that is your only period to get out if necessary.

[Chewy]

The other thing....3 don't include calling Voicemail in your free minutes!! that sucks! lol

[Hands0n]

None of my Voicemail calls have shown up as chargeable outside of my free mins (I'm on T&T 600).

All sounds like good advise

Think I'll go and check out that '3 coverage map' seeing as I dont have the real thing yet.

Ooooo its November in 6 days time. We could have less than a week 2 wait!

(Yeah, I know it'll never happen, and it'll prob B mega late, but we can dream right?)

[Hands0n]

If you're really "hot to trot with 3" you could do a lot worse than buy one of their refurb'd LG U8120 handsets which come with a £30 Threepay top up included (lasts 30 days). These are being sold in the high street by Woolworths and would be a reasonable way of finding out the score of 3G in your area.

After you get your Nokia 6280 you can sell the LG U8120 on eBay for probably twice what you paid for it (£40 - £50).