Nokia N97 Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen, 3G, 5 MP Camera, A-GPS, 32 GB, MicroSD Slot, and Integrated Ovi Applications--U.S. Version with Warranty (White)

Other products by Nokia

Product Features

• This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
• Unlocked quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and US/International 3G compatibility via 850/1900/2100 UMTS/HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE capabilities
• Flip-out full QWERTY keyboard; A-GPS and Nokia Maps; Wi-Fi networking; Bluetooth stereo music; 32 GB internal memory; expandable via MicroSD
• Up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours on 3G, up to 430 hours (17.9 days) of standby time
• What's in the Box: Nokia N97, Nokia Battery (BP-4L), travel charger (AC-10U), connectivity cable (CA-101), wired headset (AD-54, HS-45), charger adapter (CA-146), cleaning cloth

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 0.6 x 4.6 inches ; 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B00295RBNS
• Item model number: N97 White
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #220 in Cell Phones & Service (See Bestsellers in Cell Phones & Service)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for the needs of Internet-savvy mobile phone users, the Nokia N97 will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. It combines a large 3.5-inch touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard--which flips open at an angle for optimal viewing--providing an "always open" window to your favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. And with integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the device intuitively understands where it is, giving your the ability to update your status on social networks and instant messaging as well as share your location and related pictures or videos with approved friends.

The Nokia N97 mobile computer provides global 3G cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity for always-on access to your favorite social networking sites.

The quad-band Nokia N97 GSM/EDGE phone makes it easy to roam globally and stay in touch with voice and text messaging, and this model is also ready to run on 3G networks both here in the US and while traveling internationally (850/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots. You'll also be able to connect to a wide variety of peripherals--including stereo headphones--with the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR capabilities.

The Nokia N97 includes 32 GB of on-board storage and is expandable via optional 16 GB MicroSD memory cards for up to 48 GB of storage. The 5-megapixel camera offers high-quality Carl Zeiss optics, 16:9 and DVD-quality video capture, and support for services like Share on Ovi for immediate sharing over HSDPA and WLAN. Other features include an easily customizable home screen, access to both personal and corporate email, Quickoffice document viewers, TV-out capability for displaying photos and videos on external televisions, stereo FM radio, USB 2.0 connectivity, and up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours when using 3G networks).

Unlocked Phone
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider. This phone comes with a full manufacturer's warranty.

Additionally, this phone can be paired with 850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G networks in the United States (as well as 2100 MHz 3G networks found around the world, including in Europe and Asia). When paired with a compatible 3G network, you'll enjoy a high-speed connection offering a variety of feature-rich wireless services--from data connectivity to your office to multimedia streaming, and take advantage of simultaneous voice and data services. In areas not served by a 3G network, you'll continue to receive data service via EDGE network (depending on network compatibility).

Note that the downloading of maps, games, music and videos and uploading of images and videos involves transferring large amounts of data. Your service provider may charge for the data transmission, and the availability of particular services and features may vary by carrier.

The N97's face slides open at an ergnomic angle for easy viewing while typing on the full QWERTY keyboard (see larger image).

Phone Features
Large and gorgeously colorful, the Nokia N97's 3.5-inch touch display offers a 640 x 360-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors for an excellent color depth. The resistive touch screen includes haptic feedback so you know when you've pressed a key or onscreen menu, brightness control, an ambient light detector, and an orientation sensor that effortlessly switches from portrait to landscape viewing. The N97's home screen features the people, content and media that matter the most, including friends, social networks and news. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. It's also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games.

When you're ready to start typing email or text/instant messages, just flip the N97 on its left side and slide the face up to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard. The display pivots to an angle that makes it easy to read the screen while you're typing.

With A-GPS functionality, you'll be able find your route quickly and easily, whether walking or driving (A-GPS is a network dependent feature that requires a data plan; additional charges may apply). The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and the ability to search and download information about points of interests, such as restaurants, hotels, companies, travel agencies, airports, and more. Let the built-in compass keep you pointing in the right direction--the map adapts to point the same way you do. Use the Walk pedestrian navigation to find your way, or the voice-guided Drive navigation to find the best route. The Nokia N97 comes with a three-month Walk and Drive navigation license.

Accessing Nokia Maps on the N97.

The Nokia N97 supports email accounts from more than a thousand internet service providers (ISPs) around the world (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3), as well as Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. People who use Microsoft Exchange at work can access their email using the Mail for Exchange mobile email client, which comes pre-loaded (an Exchange email account is required and your Exchange Administrator must have enabled your account for synchronization). You'll enjoy reliable real-time access to your email, calendar, contacts and tasks, as well as be able to download attachments like Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF files directly to the device.

With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera (2584 x 1938 pixels), you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N96 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon. The camera offers an auto-focus Carl Zeiss lens, dual LED flash, up to 14x digital zoom, and JPEG/EXIF still image file format.

The N97 can also capture videos in a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 frames per second (fps). It includes digital video stabilization, settings for scene, video light, white balance and color tone, and up to a 90-minute clip length. Other features include automatic location tagging (geotagging) of images/videos, images taken in the correct orientation automatically, and Cover Flow viewing of photos with finger motions. Upload your photos and videos to Ovi Share and share them online with friends and family.

This smartphone has an integrated Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), enabling seamless connectivity with wireless networks at work, at home, and on the roam via Wi-Fi hotspots at airports and coffee shops. Because it's Bluetooth enabled (with version 2.0+EDR), wireless communication headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation. It also offers Bluetooth stereo audio support (A2DP), enabling you to enjoy your music without any wires. If your laptop is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect wirelessly and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.

Other features include:

• 32 GB internal memory, expandable up to 48 GB with optional 16 GB MicroSD card
• Integrated stereo speakers
• Full web browsing of real web pages; RSS reader
• Organize your life with Calendar--plan your day, organize your to-do list and set reminders for important events
• Gaming: Use the touch UI to play games and the side keys to control game functions
• Stereo FM radio (87.5-108 MHz/76-90 MHz), RDS (requires wired headset to be attached)
• Access to Internet videos, compatible with RSS feeds and video podcasts, with support for Flash video
• S60 5th edition operating system
• Organizer tools: Calendar, to-do list, notes, recorder, calculator, clock, converter
• Contacts: advanced contacts database with support for multiple phone and e-mail details per entry and thumbnail pictures
• Create, edit, and view email attachments: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf
• PC application compatibility: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer, Lotus Notes
• Support for local and remote SyncML synchronization
• Speed dialing, voice dialing (speaker independent) and voice commands
• Customization through themes, ringtones, applications
• Portrait and landscape orientation modes; with transitions via dual slide operation, or auto-rotate controlled by accelerometer
• Data transfer application for transfer of PIM information from other compatible Nokia devices
• 3.5 mm AV connector; USB 2.0 (micro USB connector)
• Nokia XpressPrint: direct printing via USB connection (PictBridge), Bluetooth connectivity (BPP), and WLAN (UPnP) or via online printing
• Flight mode
• Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PBA (transfer contacts)

Vital Statistics
The Nokia N97 weighs 5.29 ounces and measures 4.61 x 2.18 x 0.63 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours while on 3G networks, and up to 430 hours (17.9 days) of GSM standby time (400/16.6 days on 3G networks). It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA 3G frequencies.

What's in the Box
Nokia N97, Nokia Battery (BP-4L), travel charger (AC-10U), connectivity cable (CA-101), wired headset (AD-54, HS-45), charger adapter (CA-146), cleaning cloth

Product Description

The Nokia N97 mobile phone provides excellent user experience for internet and entertainment by combining QWERTY keyboard with resistive touch screen. Integrated A-GPS. 5 mega pixel camera. Video.A-GPS is a network dependant feature that requires a data plan. Additional charges may apply Personalize your homescreen arrow Have all of your content and connections at your fingertips on the beautiful personalizable home screen. Manage and access your internet directly from the intuitive user interface and enjoy the experience through the 3.5" sliding tilt display. Touch and QWERTY for connections to people and places arrow Enjoy the fast and fun ways to connect to your friends. Discover, share and navigate with Nokia Maps and the integrated compass that keeps you facing the right direction all the time. Downloading maps and/or navigating with Nokia Maps may involve the transmission of large amounts of data through your cellular service provider¿s network. Contact your service provider for information about data transmission charges. The availability and accuracy of GPS location services are dependent on wireless networks, satellite systems. It may not function in all areas or at all times. You should never rely solely on GPS products for essential communications like emergencies. Indulge in videos, music and pictures arrow Have all your entertainment on board with up to 32 GB of storage. Get more from Ovi Store arrow Download apps, games, videos, and widgets directly to your device.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect phone...almost, May 22, 2009

By	Ali Razeghi (Woodland Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hello, I shared this review with the black version of this phone, but I wanted to share it with this one as well so we who bought this version can get some insight. :)

I am a phone app developer and have had some 'face time' with the Nokia N97. I'll let you know some of the more in depth details so you can decide if this is the right phone for you or not. There are many positive features about this phone, but a few potential pitfalls for power users as well. Average users will probably never notice any of the pitfalls, but probably will never use some of the best features of this phone either to justify the cost.

This is the new Nokia flagship phone and it packs almost every feature anyone could ever want. It has a DVD quality camcorder with sample videos found here:
http://www.vimeo.com/4352001
Notice how well the mic picks up the creeks of the boats in Monte Carlo, and how rich the colors look. That is due to the Carl Zeiss lens Nokia has put in. The quality is also great and can be sent directly to the TV via the TV out cable, but I would recommend making a DVD from the memory card as the quality of the cable isn't as good as the DVD quality this phone provides. Video starts up quickly, which is an improvement from the previous versions.

The pictures taken by this phone are of very good quality. Many consumers are fooled by 'megapixels' (mp). Well folks, after 5mp or so, mp doesn't mean much. All it does is make your picture size better, it does NOT increase the QUALITY. I assume most of us aren't pro graphic artists that need huge pictures to zoom in on the most minute detail, and if you are, then you probably don't need this review :P
The lens and picture quality of this phone is superb, but not as good as the Samsung 8 sadly. It is by far tho, one of the best mobile phone cameras around. You can notice some problems in darker areas and they went with a dual LED flash instead of the Xeon gas flash. The Xeon gas flash would have provided much better lighting in low light situations, however as a phone enthusiast I feel it's good enough.
View sample images from thesymbianblog.com:
http://vaibhavsharma.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/nokia-n97-camera-photo-sample-01.jpg

and

http://vaibhavsharma.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/nokia-n97-camera-photo-sample-03.jpg

Judge for yourself.

This phone is a TRUE smart phone OS which means you can download apps for it such as VPN software to connect to your office network and apps such as PUTTY or RDP clients to remote control real computers at the house/office. With 3G speeds the potential is limitless.


Now for the bad. Nokia decided to use the old ARM II CPU found in the N85, 95, etc. phones but increased the clockspeed (mhz) slightly. We were looking forward to the new TI cpu which would have provided much better speeds, at the cost of battery life. They also stuck with 128mb ram with about 80mb available after boot up. I don't know about you but after I load up all of my apps and get cranking, I eat that up. I was able to notice some slow down in the pre-build when I:
-opened up several websites w/ flash content
-ran the music player
-opened up 'widget' applications
-tried basic functionality

Most users will probably never do that. If you are a power user, then you probably already know about the Samsung Omnia HD which boasts of similer features, but also the new faster CPU and dedicated GFX chip which means you can play Ipod type 3d games with ease. The final point is with the potentially underpowered CPU, you will not be able to play the super high resolution videos the Samsung can play.

Finally this phone has the slower 3G speeds which don't reach 7mbps, will you need 7mbps? Probably not. I think for 99% of users, the current 3G speeds offered by this phone are fine.

I tried out the phone and pre-ordered, I can't wait to get it. I can't wait to develop some 'widget' applications for it and really see the power of this phone with the newer more stable build.

Thank you for reading this, feel free to respond, yell, scream, or ask any questions!

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If this were a real flagship, it'd sink, June 28, 2009

By	John Newdick "John Newdick" (Danbury, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I first learned of the n97's release, I was excited. I had been waiting for Nokia to release another ground-breaking phone, like the n95 of years ago. The n96 wasn't it, nor was the n85. Then the n97 came - with a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard to boot! I was sold at once, but did all of my research anyway and found it to be full of innovative ideas and modern must-haves. I bought it nearly two weeks ago at a reasonable discount from NokiasUSA after Amazon ran out of stock and jacked up the price.


**If you read the specs, you will find all of the high points, but here are some more:

-I found the phone to be fast and responsive when given input. The keyboard is phenomenal - the key spacing and feel is just right and the offset space bar is not as big of a deal as it is often made out to be. The only thing I could ask for is a little click to acknowledge the button was pushed, though if the sound is on the phone makes a small noise. The keyboard could have been even bigger yet if they dropped the D-Pad, which I rarely find myself using as it is a touchscreen (maybe make it a secondary feature for other keys?).

-The GPS unit quickly finds a satellite signal (faster than most Tom-Toms) and accurately places you on a detailed map. The turn-by-turn voice directions work well, except they do not read the street name. Best of all, it doesn't make you agree to do-not-drive-as-you-use-this-device waivers every time the program launches.

-The call quality is excellent.

-No contract and not bogged down with un-deletable carrier apps and tacky logos that remind you who bought your soul.


**The bad and the ugly:

-My first thought when I handled it was, "a little chintzy, eh?" It does give off the impression for a little while, primarily because of the battery cover. They used a plastic, snap-on/ pry-off cover whose snaps are easily bent out of shape, but did not break and easily bent back. The rest of the construction, especially the hinge, seems to be very solid now that I have used it extensively.

-The 5MP camera takes remarkable photos and videos, unless you want to use the flash, which is too close to the lens and whites out a third of the image. Thinking about this more, I decided Nokia has used a very similar camera since September of 2006 when the first n95 debuted and such a quirk is unacceptable in something that has been around the technology world for so long.

-The battery life is terrible. With normal use, it will most likely get 24-30 hours.

-Reception is bad. The internal antenna does not pickup signal where my Blackberry does and my Samsung (4 years ago) before it did, to include my apartment in Boston (not exactly East Reeve, Wisconsin).

-The FM transmitter is hardly worth having. After trying numerous stations I know to be unused in my area, the reception in my newer Audi with rear-mounted antenna was terrible unless I held the phone out the sunroof. I assume if you have a hood mounted antenna, it would be a little better (does anyone know?).

-The resistive touchscreen is outdated and somewhat unresponsive. Resistive touchscreens are great if you wear gloves, and if they are huge, but that doesn't happen on a mobile phone. Resistive touchscreens use a grid-like system to figure out where they've been touched, as they have invisible lines that make a grid across the screen. When the selected area is touched, the corresponding up/down and left/right lines are pushed against sensors on the screen's edge and send the information to the processor. Capacitive screens measure minute differences in its electric field cause by the conductive human body and are generally much more accurate.

-The inertia scrolling is not as one would expect, probably because of the aforementioned screen. It does not matter how fast the screen is flicked, the information displayed travels the same measly distance and stops rather quickly no matter what, if it works at all. Navigating web pages is probably the only reason I would use the provided D-Pad just because the scrolling with the touchscreen is so terrible.

-The accelerometer, which detects the direction the phone is tilted, is often incorrect and the phone is very slow to change the screen's display between portrait and landscape.

-Oftentimes, the phone must be unlocked 2 or 3 times to get the LCD's backlight to turn on. This may be a software or a hardware malfunction, I do not know.

-The talk and end button are not raised but should be, especially because the phone does not acknowledge them having been pressed for a second after. Plus, real buttons are always preferred.


**Then there's the software:

-The user interface is not so good. Every application has an options menu, but after the application has been customized, you probably will not find much need for any of the other options except exit, which is buried at the bottom of the menu and needs to be scrolled to.

The phone screen is inefficiently laid out. On the screen there is a "Call" and "End" button, both of which are physical keys on the phone itself, as well as a "Contacts" button which can be found on the previous screen. I would rather just see bigger numbers. Also, the phone is setup to display two lines of numbers and forces a single number from the area code on on the second line when I would rather like to see bigger number buttons and ALL US numbers on a single line.

-The homescreen widgets do not update as freely as one might like, the AccuWeather is rarely connected and my Hotmail account will ONLY refresh manually. The FaceBook app is good.

-The homescreen has a button on it to change the sound profile, but tapping the power button brings up the same menu - Nokia should just get rid of the redundancy and dedicate the space to, well, uhhh, anything else.

-No QWERTY keyboard option on the touchscreen.

-Being able to run multiple apps is great, but switching between them shouldn't mean a fight with the options menu, there should be an external button to switch between them.

-The homescreen has an option to compose a new message, but not one to read old messages. The button should be dedicated to going into the messenger application instead.

-Half of the menus require a double touch while the other half require a single touch.

-Plus a dozen smaller "Oh, that's silly" features not worth mentioning.

-My phone has needed to be reset because one or more different things were not working correctly at least once a day, though it has never frozen completely. Once, strangely, the touchscreen would highlight the selected app/item, but fail to execute the command completely.



Overall, it is a good phone, but certainly not worth the money. I recommend you wait for the first major software update to be released and reviewed before purchasing.

UPDATE (4 July) - I've made updates on the n97 (Black) page.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware: terrible interface and application function. Mine's in the repair shop now..., October 2, 2009

By	Susan Reale (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have had this phone since July 3, 2009. Since purchase I have had to deal with one issue after another, all related to the software and application interface. The hardware (physical) phone itself was great.

Negatives:
Too numerous to list all of them here, but essentially the software and applications are not intuitive and have MAJOR issues. I am fairly tech savvy and I cannot even imagine how someone who is less knowledgeable in this area would be able to deal with this phone. Very high maintenance.
--It took me, and several tech geek friends, A LOT of time to figure out how to set up 2 email accounts.
--The wireless access would not "remember" my wireless WEP key and typing that long# in repeatedly is not fun! It started 'saving' it on its own one day. (see reboot story below - now it doesn't save any more)
--Facebook app and "Favorites" app won't load onto the home screen (just says "Loading" but never does). I tried to reinstall the Facebook app, but had to go to a 3rd party site to find it. Nokia's Ovi store no longer has a FB app available. Once an app is gone from your phone - good luck trying to reinstall it. Impossible. If you can even find the app anywhere.
--Apps randomly work, then don't work. Very mysterious.

Yesterday I had to do a hard reset back to the factory settings (which means I had to back up and then delete all of my data, photos, text messages, music, and loose all of my settings, including difficult-to-set-up email connection settings, etc), to try and get the non-working/disappeared apps to work. There wasn't much else I could do the software was so messed up. It was the last resort to get the phone to function properly. However, resetting it essentially "killed" the phone interface entirely. It is so bad that I just sent my phone to Nokia's repair site in Alabama (their "customer care" phone and email are essentially non-existant: phone tree loop and a "generic" email response is what they consider "care.") Now, I am waiting to see if/when they fix the phone. Here is how the phone was "working" after the hard reset (that was supposed to bring it back to the original factory settings):

--The key pad won't function (on screen) so I can't even try another hard reset.
--The phone doesn't work (can't access it).
--The camera won't function.
--Most of the apps are missing. Including facebook and 'favorites'.
--Most of the apps that are still on the phone won't function.
--The phone shuts off when connected to the computer to update software.
--The phone randomly shuts on and off when you try to access an app.
--The 'memory full' message keeps appearing when there is nothing on the phone and there are no apps open.
Among other issues...

My main concerns about having to mail my new, $700 phone to a far away repair place are:
(1) now I am stuck with NO PHONE for "7-10+ days" and I am trying to run a small business (ironically enough it is for usability testing of products such as this - and boy does Nokia need to test their N97 interface - have they actually read the Nokia Users Discussion board?), and;
(2) the "Repair form" instructions for returning the phone state that they will "call me with an estimate of the cost(shouldn't it be free?!)" or that they will "return the phone if it is not repairable." That's just great. Can you tell that I am really annoyed? The phone cost $700!!!

Positives:
Nice hardware. The keyboard is easy to use and read. I liked the matte feel of the keys. The screen is large and crisp in terms of readbility, and I love the fact that you can use your finger or a stylus (or finger nail - which you can't do on the iPhone) to activate the touch screen. I love the weight and solid feel of the phone. The silver buttons and edging is also a nice touch. The camera, when it worked, took nice photos that rivaled my digital cameras' pics.

The white phone is pretty cool looking - too bad it doesn't work!