Nokia makes N78 available in US
updated 09:40 am EDT, Tue June 24, 2008
Nokia N78 in US
Nokia today began offering a North American version of the N78, its relatively low-cost but full-feature smartphone. The candybar design comes to the US with 3G Internet support for AT&T's HSPA data network and undercuts the price of Nokia's own N82 and N95 by scaling back the camera: the N78 uses a 3.2-megapixel sensor and a single LED flash versus the 5-megapixel, Xenon-lit shooting of other Nseries phones. Wi-Fi is also built in, as is GPS with data assist that lets the phone find its position through either Nokia Maps or a third-party app such as Google Maps for Mobile.
The smartphone uses a microSDHC card slot for storage of music, photos, and other content, and integrates an FM tuner for both live radio as well as beaming sound to a car or home stereo without needing an adapter or cable. Reflecting its relatively reduced feature set, the N78 should be available today and sells for $560 as an unlocked phone that works both with AT&T's full 3G service as well as calls and EDGE data on both AT&T and T-Mobile.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Nice price there!
If anyone is wondering how much an unlocked iPhone will be, we might take this Nokia as a reference point. $560 seems quite reasonable for this kind of a device. Obviously, Nokia is aware how much iPhone will cost and is trying to preemptively undercut it. If the iPhone ever becomes available unlocked in the US, expect it to be just a little more expensive than this Nokia (perhaps $600?).
This price can also help us determine AT&T's subsidy for the iPhone. If a realistic market price for it is in the neighbourhood of $600, then it is safe to assume that Apple is giving AT&T a bit of a break on that price, selling it to AT&T perhaps at about $525 - $550. This confirms the estimated subsidy of about $350.
iSuppli has just released their preliminary cost of components, pegging it at $173. I am pretty sure this little Nokia will be much more expensive to put together. In all, while Nokia will surely collect decent profit margins on the device, Apple will be raking it in big time.