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Buy N8 from O2 or NokiaDirec​t?.

Anonymous
Not applicable
Hi all
I have a sim only contract with O2.
First question: What is the difference and benefits etc in me buying an N8 from O2 for £330 on PAYG versus buying an N8 from NokiaDirect on PAYG for £369.00 plus compulsary £10 (for O2 Top Up) versus buying a SIM Free N8 from Nokia Direct for £429. Would I be able to use my old SIM ? (in the first two scenarios I would be discarding the PAYG SIM that comes with the handset)
Second question: Why do people buy the more expensive 'SIM Free' handsets, as opposed to the cheaper PAYG handsets. If they are direct from Nokia, I am assuming they are unlocked and unbranded anyway even if they are shown as PAYG.
My tariff with O2 allows 'unlimited web' bolt on (from before they scrapped it), hence why I do not want a newer tariff tied with a new N8 handset.
Please help/advise me as otherwise my wife is going to make me switch to Apple (she has same contract as me and our trusty N95s have finally fallen apart too much- thanks to our kids!)
Thanks
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Anonymous
Not applicable
Getting handset direct from Nokia is always unbranded and unlocked. Getting handset from a network, will have some sort of branding on it, and may be locked to the network as well. I know on O2 pay and go, you are unable to unlock the handset, unless you use your O2 sim card in it, for atleast a year that is the pay and go sim card.
Thats why getting handset direct from Nokia will always cost more than getting it from the network directly.
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sheepdog
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Registered:
First question: What is the difference and benefits etc in me buying an N8 from O2 for £330 on PAYG versus buying an N8 from NokiaDirect on PAYG for £369.00 plus compulsary £10 (for O2 Top Up) versus buying a SIM Free N8 from Nokia Direct for £429. Would I be able to use my old SIM ? (in the first two scenarios I would be discarding the PAYG SIM that comes with the handset)

er multiple part question...
Providing your sim is not an old one, think many many years, then your current sim is perfectly fine. I can't see the PAYG option on Nokia's site so could you provide a link? BTW, the gift of a unwanted sim card could be a handy christmas gift wink
Second question: Why do people buy the more expensive 'SIM Free' handsets, as opposed to the cheaper PAYG handsets. If they are direct from Nokia, I am assuming they are unlocked and unbranded anyway even if they are shown as PAYG.

You'd be saving a lot of money if you don't need to have different network sim cards! You'd need to put up with the o2 branded stuff if buying from o2 though according to the other thread, its not that bad (someone confirm). I believe the only colour you can get from o2 is the dark grey so colour choice is a premium.
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Anonymous
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here's the NokiaDirect PAYG N8 link:
http://www.nokiadirect.co.uk/Pay-As-You ... p81121.htm
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sheepdog
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Yeah, I suspect its got branded firmware on the network you choose and will come from different stock.
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Anonymous
Not applicable
if you use an o2 sim card then go for the 329 pounds model from o2
as others have said nokia direct will be unlocked , sim free , unbranded , running a uk product code so it will get updates without networks getting involved
if you buy an o2 phone it will have very minimal branding (o2 splash start up screen and o2 access points) but it will have a o2 product code meaning updates could be slower
however you can use phoneix to upgrade your firmware and get the firmware free from navifirm , all without voiding your warranty with the n8 so firmware updates arent really a major problem anymore like they used to be with a network branded nokia
ive got an o2 n8 in the house and a nokia direct one owned by someone else , the o2 branding is minimal like i say just a start up screen and thats it , its 100 pounds cheaper , firmware can be sorted via navifirm and phoneix and if you use an o2 sim card then you dont need it to be unlocked slight_smile
i know id save 100 pounds if i was in your shoes and i wanted to use an o2 sim card
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Anonymous
Not applicable
Thanks for all the replies everyone.
What about this scenario: Buy from TescoDirect on Tesco Mobile PAYG for £319.97 and immediately pay the £20 to have the handset unlocked (which is allowed- only PAYG I have come across that allows this straight away), allowing it to work with my O2 SIM.
Once the handset is unlocked is it then a possibility to have the product code changed from the Tesco one to the 'normal' European/UK Nokia one using software easily available- ensuring speedier access to firmware updates?
Thanks for your technical help in advance.
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Anonymous
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if you change the product code, you might void the warranty. so need to be careful with that.
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Anonymous
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you dont have to change the product code jaf or phoneix can be used to flash firmware without changing product code its very easy to do
Message 9 of 12
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Anonymous
Not applicable
also changing product code on the n8 isnt as easy as before nemisis doesnt read the phone jaf may be able to do it but theres no point when you can flash the handset without voiding your warranty
as for tesco n8's i know two people that have recieved their unlock code within 1 week but the codes dont work for them
check out nokia users n8 section for alot of info on the n8
http://www.nokiausers.net/forum/nokia-n8/
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