Nokia N9 won’t be available in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and many other countries

Vlad Bobleanta  By on 30 Jun 11

The Nokia N9‘s release is fast approaching. Well, not that fast considering that it’s only expected in Sweden on September 23. But it is coming. And now, thanks to Nokia itself, we finally have the full list of countries and territories where Nokia’s first and possibly last MeeGo-branded handset will be available.

There are 23 of those countries and territories (you’ll get the full list in a second), yet the countries that aren’t on the list stand out more than those that are. Did you know, for example, that the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy will not get the N9 on sale officially? Ever? Neither will the US, Canada, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands… and the list goes on and on. After all, with just 23 places that will get it, the list of those that won’t is bound to get big.

But here’s the thing. A couple of weeks ago we found out that Nokia’s first Windows Phone 7 device will launch before the end of this year in six countries. Now if you were guessing that all of those six countries are among those that won’t ever see the N9, you were right.

The first Nokia WP7 handset will become available in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK – precisely where the MeeGo-based N9 won’t be available. Coincidence? I say not. At least in Europe, Nokia seems to aim its first WP7 at the more ‘mature’ smartphone markets, and the N9 at, well, the rest. What do you think about this strategy? Is it well thought out? Would the N9 simply not have a chance in any of the ‘big’ European mobile markets with people so in love with iPhones and Androids? Then again, if that’s so, then why would the WP7 offering fare any better? Let us know in the comments.

Here’s the entire list of places where you will be able to pick up an N9 from later this year: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, and Vietnam.

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  • Anonymous

    what about INDIA….
    there is no mention of India in both the list neither WP7 nor in MeeGo…

  • Sealblaighter Halmagyi

    So it will be available in Romania. Good! :) )

  • Anonymous Coward

    Jesus, you guys are really, really, really stupid.

    Nokia has closed their online stores in their countries so, yes, *Nokia* will not be selling the N9 in those countries.

    That doesn’t mean that every other retail channel won’t be selling it.

    Understand this, that Nokia is no longer retailing the N8 in those countries but you can still buy one virtually everywhere that sell phones. 

    You list of countries is simply a list of place where Nokia directly retails the phone.

    I am surprised that someone with such a low level of basic reading comprehension is running stories …

  • Anonymous

    N9 will be sold in countries where Nokia still has a loyal following and moves a lot of volume, regardless of Symbian or Harmattan.

    WP will be used for all the big markets where Nokia has been and is falling like a rock and where Symbian (and none-WP) would be a very hard sell.

    Perhaps not a perfect tactic, but considering that WP is where the action will be Nokia, it’s a very apt tactic.

  • Anonymous

    N9 will be sold in countries where Nokia still has a loyal following and moves a lot of volume, regardless of Symbian or Harmattan.

    WP will be used for all the big markets where Nokia has been and is falling like a rock and where Symbian (and none-WP) would be a very hard sell.

    Perhaps not a perfect tactic, but considering that WP is where the action will be Nokia, it’s a very apt tactic.

  • Anonymous

    Sorry anonymous stupid, but your reasoning has very little practical relevance.

    Nokia moves most of their handset volume via carriers.

    It doesn’t matter diddly squat to the population at large, whether a phone is available for RRP unlocked in some obscure web-store.

    99% of people in those carrier dominated countries do not buy like that.

    Yes, it is also possible to buy CDMA and TS-CDMA phones from USA and China to Bulgaria via the Internet.

    So what. It makes no sense.

    Nokia has pruned to release countries to the ones where they can actually have a chance of moving a few thousand units.

    The rest are reserved for the big WP launch, which will be Nokia’s main effort in 2011 and going forward.

    Everything else, including Harmattan devices and Symbian 1GHz upgades is basically just a side-show.

  • James

    I think Nokia is a dumb fool for letting go meego come on windows phone really  megoo alone could off put nokia on top but choosing microsoft  phone it will still be going down cause windows phone is on the last place

  • Anonymous

    Actually 30% of Nokia phones are sold unlocked. While that is less than via carrier that’s still over 40 million phones every quarter.
    N900 had 4 carriers in the globe selling it and it sold around 200k-500k(no solid sale numbers exists). N9 has more carrier support than that.

    All that said i’m not against this(especially as i’m in one of the countries that will get N9 ;) ) and i think Elop made the right thing. 

  • gizmos

    Nokia CEO does not support Meego even it is a hit. In the mean time waiting for Nokia WP7, Nokia just want to let investors and End User know they are capable having high end phone. Period.. No serious sale or support for Meego OS..

  • energybb

    Stupid policy- we vonts N9!

  • energybb

    Why in Slovakia and Itali no???? We vont this phone too. Stupid windows policy -they wont to break up Meego and N9 risults!!!

  • http://twitter.com/Alboooz Alboooz

    This version of N9 is made from plastic and that’s why rich countries will not get it, they might disgust themselves on price…they know it…and they intend to build one other N9 version made of aluminum for developed countries.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=609465943 Jonathan Ray Wilson

    This is the biggest load of crap ever! I saw this thing and I felt like it was the phone I’d been waiting for. I like Android but, I really think I like Meego a lot more, from what I saw (said the samething the first time I saw the Android OS). I don’t want to have to ship that thing all around the world just to get one. Please let the US have it!

  • ScottW

    I think it is no coincidence that the MeeGo N9 won’t be going to the UK, Germany etc for the purpose of the M$ version. However in honour of Mr Elop’s courage in making this decision, perhaps the WP7 version should be called the Nokia Trojan?

  • http://twitter.com/GeneralAntilles Ryan Abel

    Vlad I suggest you do a little more fact checking. As the Anonymous Coward points out, that list excludes countries without Nokia web stores, as the notification is ONLY for availability in Nokia’s online store, not an indicator of retail availability in the country.

    http://mwkn.net/2011/26/devices.html

  • Callan

    Polycarbonate is not ‘just plastic’. All reviewers mentioned the premium look and feel of the N9.

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