Finnish co. Nokia has decided that its newest MeeGo handset – the N9 – will not get a release in the United States.
The dropping of the N9 model mobile with MeeGo platform Stateside is most likely due to Nokia and network carriers prepping for the eagerly awaited Windows Phone 7 update Mango, the project in which Nokia are now a partner and set to launch a product range including recently snapped “Sea Ray”. The company has already planned to halt US and Canadian sales of phones packing its native operating system – Symbian.
The official statement from Nokia was released online by a fellow blog site and reads:
“After the very positive reception to the launch of the Nokia N9, the product is now being rolled out in countries around the world. At this time we will not be making it available in the U.S. Nokia takes a market by market approach to a product rollout, and each country makes its own decisions about which products to introduce from those available. Decisions are based on an assessment of existing and upcoming products that make up Nokia’s extensive product portfolio and the best way in which to address local market opportunities.”
Plans are still going ahead for Nokia full assault of Europe with the N9 rumoured to touch down for us lucky folks in the UK first of all. A countdown on the Swedish website suggests that the release will come around September 23rd.
Meanwhile, Nokia’s involvement in Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Mango project is said to be revealed and we’ll find out really what’s been going on – this to be at the Nokia World Conference on October 23rd.
UPDATE (11:00AM): Recombu.com is suggesting that the UK’s Carphone Warehouse have been in contact with them to say that “we understand that this handset will not launching in the UK”. This comes with no official confirmation from Nokia.
UPDATE: (12:30PM): Official confirmation comes from Nokia that the UK will no longer be included in the N9 launch. Nokia have pulled the countdown timer from its website and issued these comments:
“Although we are delighted with the very positive reception that the Nokia N9 has received, here in the UK there are no plans to offer the Nokia N9 at present.”
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Source: Engadget