theregoesdave

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is a really novel approach to a combined MP3 player and phone that just can’t seem to get out of its own way. The phone is relatively inexpensive and comes with an unlimited subscription to the Nokia Music Store where you can download DRM-free MP3s.

The problems started when Nokia’s inventory system melted down upon the launch of the 5800 in the US. After that, the company had problems with some of the units’ speakers which required replacing. Now the 5800 is having 3G connectivity issues in New York and Chicago.

It’s hard to say why the 5800 would be having connectivity issues in these locations and not others. Users in the Dallas and Miami locations seem to be unaffected by these performance issues. AT&T’s network uses a proprietary version of the 3G protocol, which can make some phones without the proper radio software have connectivity issues.

This isn’t the first time AT&T has seen network issues hamper a major launch. The iPhone’s original launch clobbered the company’s network so badly that the devices needed to be tuned down to avoid taking down towers in busy areas.

Hopefully these issues can be resolved and won’t impact the 5800 XpressMusic’s long term viability, though it’s certainly not off to a great start.

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