Well, finally all is back to order as the Nokia customer service facility finally accepted that I return the n82 and get my refund. I was really worried as both the online support and the call center were ignoring me or just refusing the return. Obviously we’re not yet at the age of efficient phone or web support, that’s for sure !

Anyway I can start again my quest for the phone that will fulfill my needs.

So here is what was wrong with this purchase of the N82:

1- I decided to buy it after making a phone feature comparison on the Nokia Europe/UK website. Selecting my requirements (GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, camera) I finally ended-up selecting the N82

2- reading first a few reviews to be sure, I confirmed my choice and was left with the feeling that, being the promising next big hit after the N73, this phone would include all the features of the N73, especially the possibility to type SMS from a computer thru Bluetooth, and the most expected business card scanner

3- finding a good deal at Best-Buy, I finally bought-it after spending a few hours comparing it with the N95 and talking to Best-Buy staff

4- once home, problems start: no way to find neither the Wifi connection wizard, nor the business card scanner (there is a bar-code scanner though, that can decode business cards which have it printed, but the feature is far away from the N73 business card scanner that was able to OCR the card and put in all arranged in your contacts)

5- pushing a little further, no way to write SMS in the Nokia Lifeblog application: it’s really impossible to type sms with this phoneset as a) buttons are really small b) the letters above the buttons are microscopic and c) the stainless-steel
face is brighter than the letters in daylight, so the PC feature is a must at work

On the positive note, I could download many maps (thru the night at it was quite slow) of the world (France, London, NY, SF, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong-kong, which left me 500 MB free on my 2 GB card) and got the GPS to work exactly as expected, giving me position, maps, routes and turn-to-turn voice and screen directions during the 1st 3 trial days of the service (after the 3 days, I could still use the maps, get the position with standalone GPS or network-using AGPS, find routes, but could not have the turn-to-turn real-time voice and screen direction until I pay the year, month or week fee).

But whatever, buying a Wifi phone that has no wifi was not acceptable for me.

After a little bit of research, I found out: according to one post on the net, Wifi is forbidden on cell phones sold in this country! well, I’ve no problem with that, every country can have its own laws. But what was not acceptable to me is that the only feature comparator available on Nokia websites selects the N82 based on the Wifi requirement, and does not mention at all that it is a country specific feature !

So you end-up selecting a phone for a feature that will not be in the same model you buy.

You could argue that the Best-Buy Shanghai staff could have mentioned that there is no Wifi, but according to a few reviews I read on Best-Buy it’s something you can not expect …

My conclusion: Nokia customer service was understanding, after insisting a little, and accepted the return, so finally no issue on that side (and the personnel was really charming, not like the call-center ones).

However, if Nokia really want to make a great phone experience (and service), they need to change quite a few things:

- stop removing great features from a phone to its successor: a) business cards scanner of the N73, is awsome, just keep it! b) ability to send SMS from the PC software

- provide a global feature comparison website that clearly mentions what is or not available in the countries: not only people buying from Europe need that

- create a real on-line global support service with customer caring agents who find solutions for the customers in place of their current agents who just send standard e-mails: people who buy high-end phone with GPS … travel and need support on the go

So what will be my next phone now ? With my requirements:

- great camera (with optical zoom would be even better than the N82)
- GPS
- bluetooth & wifi
- business cards scanner
- send SMS from PC
- not Windows, please !

Maybe a Nokia, but which one ??? Any other suggestions ?

Thank you.

After reading all these positive reviews I had so much expectations (I loved the N73 so I was an easy target!).

I bought the N82 2 days ago and am extremely frustrated, and the customer hotline did not give a …..!

Feeling hopeless I registered to My Nokia to send a feedback as a last attempt to get someone care about my issue.

I still hope they live by the standard that every customer would expect from a global leader, and give them one week to provide satisfactory support (I also work in a global company that would not let a customer that dissatisfied).

If they do (or they don’t), I will keep you posted so that you have the exact idea of how great this company is. Or is not.

Stay tuned !