Nokia Sweden has launched a countdown site for the upcoming Nokia N9. The phone was rumored for a September release date in several European countries and the countdown clock supports this rumor. There’s no word on a North American launch at this time, but I expect the phone to be available in the U.S. some time this fall.
I’m really excited for this phone. It’s gorgeous. The operating system seems shockingly elegant for Nokia. Admittedly, part of the N9’s charm is that it will be Nokia’s first and last MeeGo-powered phone. Part of me is hoping that the N9 sells so well that it makes Nokia’s decision to go with Windows Phone look stupid. That would be fun to write about. Ha!
It's not coming to America now. :(
The line is, "At this time we will not be making it available in the US." There are a few ways to interpret that. Most bloggers are saying that it's not coming to America at all. It could also mean that other territories are getting it first and the U.S. market will come later. One of my journalist friends believes that Microsoft is cock blocking the N9 in America.
Oddly I can't think of even 1 Nokia phone I have seen in years. I mean I am sure there are some, but for the life of me I have no clue.
That's not unusual. Nokia's top-of-the-line phones haven't been available on American carriers for a long, long time. Nokia didn't want to play ball with American carriers and didn't want them to much with their UIs. That's what you haven't seen things like the excellent N95 and the almost great N8 in the U.S.