Nokia, Ufone set to unleash N8 into local market

Nokia gives Ufone exclusive right to sell its new high end smartphone, the N8 through its outlets in Pakistan.

Nokia and Ufone on Tuesday signed an MoU, giving Ufone exclusive rights to sell Nokia N8 handsets in Pakistan for the first month of sales.

The N8 is one of three new smartphones unveiled by Nokia recently at Nokia World, the company’s annual showcase event. The new devices are set to compete in the highly competitive smartphone market that the likes of RIM, Apple and Google have captured locally. The new phones all run an updated operating system called the Symbian^3 that brings a much desired change from the old Symbian versions that had not been updated in a long time and were beginning to feel outdated in comparison to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android Operating System.

In a recent survey conducted by The Express Tribune, mobile phone users rated the iPhone as their device of choice, followed by the BlackBerry. Nokia ranked at number five, with most users voting in favor of Nokia's high end models. According to the survey:

Nokia’s biggest strength is that it really does have a phone out there for everyone. This is also its weakness. Lower end models received low scores for menu issues, voice quality and being perceived as ‘cheap’, while mid/higher-end models received either rave reviews for applications and ease of use or the exact opposite. However, everyone seems to agree that Nokia makes the most durable phones out there and what you pay for is exactly what you get.

Top of mind: Mixed bag of goodies

Despite stiff competition in the market Ufone and Nokia believe the N8 launch will signal a change of fortune. Mr Khurram Mahboob, Head of Devices, Affinity & Loyalty said, 'We are thrilled to have the exclusive rights to bring to Pakistan the latest, high-tech mobile computer – Nokia N8. The recent past has seen Ufone offer its valued customers a number of exciting handset deals and this is sure to be one to look out for. We are giving our valued customers an opportunity to experience Nokia’s flagship device before any one in Pakistan. We are also giving away exclusive internet data bundles for six months for our loyal customers to stay in touch all the time.'

Taking the Nokia N8 for a spin

Jahanzaib Haque, Web Editor of The Express Tribune recently reviewed the N8 at a pre-launch event in Dubai.

No matter how fantastic the N8 may be, I still doubt it can compete with the BlackBerry peer pressure and the iPhone’s elite status prevailing in this market segment. If I was a serious buyer, I would ask myself, can I fight off the BlackBerry crowd who will condemn me for not buying a BB – and if I tell them I bought the N8 for its super cool features and technology, wont the iPhone crowd step in and laugh at me? (read the full review here)