Is the N96 Still relevant?
With several new launch announcements in the past couple of months, it is apparent that many enthusiasts have now put their Nokia N96 purchase plans on hold. When Nokia revealed this phone in Q1 this year, it was hyped up as the next flagship from the company because it was seen as a natural upgrade to the N95 family, which were a run away success.
Sibling rivalry no 1: The N85
And then, just before the actual launch date of N96, Nokia announced the N85, which has very similar specifications to the N96 and bettering it in a few features. Except for the DVB-H, the Nokia N96 does’nt differ from the N85 in many ways. The size of N85 is more compact and it has a smaller screen, but it offers a better experience due to the OLED display. The N85 seemed like a better alternative to the N96, so many people put their plans on hold.
Sibling rivalry no 2: The 5800 XpressMusic
Then came the shocker - the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. With touch features and huge screen resolution offered, it almost took everyone by surprise. Suddenly, the S60 third edition looks archaic. Eventhough Nokia targets the music loving crowd for the 5800, I won’t be surprised if many people waiting for the N96 switch to the 5800 bandwagaon.
It may be bit early to completely call of the Nokia N96, but I am very sure that it is not going to see the success that its predecessor enjoyed. I have been saying this so many times, but I do strongly beleive that Nokia needs to realign its portfolio and trim off some redundant handsets from the offerings.
