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Some Nokia N78 variants to come without FM transmitter

Categories: Devices, Nokia
By: , IntoMobile
Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 3:41 AM

Nokia N78

The built-in FM transmitter is probably one of the key selling points of the Nokia N78. So I was kinda surprised to learn Nokia has shipped some variants without it. I’m not sure how transmitting music reflects on the battery life and if it does significantly, I guess that makes sense.

But wait, the only reason why would someone pick the N78 over N82, is the ability to stream its music from the phone to its in-car stereo. Ok, the price is also the factor, but on some let’s say two-year-long contract term, that’s almost a non-issue.

On the other hand, this may be the software issue as in some countries it’s not legal to transmit anything to FM radio waves without a special permit. It’s cool if that’s the case, and that you could enable the feature when you travel. Otherwise, without the single differentiating point, the N78 looks like a hard sell. Or I’m wrong? What do you think?

[Via: Symbian-Freak]

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • Andrew

    That advert for this phone said that the FM transmitter wasn’t available in all countries. I assume the w/o version will be just for them.

  • Micky

    Probably something to do with laws of transmitting in certain frequencies in certain countries.

  • iamclayscholes

    that’s unfortunate.
    The FM Transmitter was it’s real key selling point, imo.

  • Zak

    I hope they allow an FM transmitter in Canada, I just ordered my gf the blue version

  • Anfibio

    I hope they allow an FM transmitter in Perú too.

  • Anthony

    The N78 *looks* way better than the N82, it runs Feature Pack 2 & is cheaper. FM transmitter, I’m told, isn’t really powerful enough to do much unless it’s sitting on top of the car/stereo antenna.

  • Zak

    I disagree Anthony

    The N82 is a real man’s phone (the black version anyway)

    the N78 is more for chicks I think

  • Zak

    I like to think of a phones camera like a man’s pen*s

    The larger the Megapixel count, the larger the package

    Making the N78 for ppl w/ … well you know :)

  • Christophe Beyls

    The N78 has a better battery (1200 mAh like on the N95), the Navi-Wheel, the FM transmitter and more recent software (with a 3D interface and so on). For me it’s better than the N82. The camera has fewer megapixels and a LED Flash but the picture quality is as good, if not better than on N82 (as “chicks” say: size does not matter, only matters the quality ;) ). Soon it will be compatible with the N-Gage platform too.

    The only advantages I see in buying a N82 is the accelerometer and the integrated GPU for high-performance games (I don’t play those), and maybe the Xenon Flash and smaller DAS. Or the keyboard, if you can’t bear the one of N78.

    For me the key points are the better battery life and the most recent software so I would pick the N78 without hesitation.