Nokia says it has addressed the initial problems with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device for the North American market, and inventory channel fulfillment should be completed next week.
Nokia announced the device was for sale a week ago, but some consumers reported problems connecting with their local 3G network. The company halted sales while it looked into the matter; the cause was a “simple configuration change,” a spokesman said without elaborating. The device is being sold in other countries; it was the North American version that had problems.
Nokia says it caught the issue within hours of the first units being sold; the device went on sale through Nokia flagship stores in New York City and Chicago. The company didn’t say how many consumers were affected by the problems, just that the issue was confined to a “very small group” of consumers.
“Those few customers of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic who experience a 3G signal issue are advised to contact Nokia Customer Care,” said a company statement. “Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.”
Elsewhere, TheStreet.com is reporting that Nokia and Verizon Wireless are working on a touch-screen LTE device. A Verizon spokeswoman said the company isn’t commenting on that report.
Earlier this week, Giga Om reported that a Nokia marketing executive told an industry group in Grapevine, Texas, that Nokia plans to have LTE devices available in 2010.