Nokia N97 Review Part 2 - No SIP - No Skype

Part one of my N97 review series focused on the touch based web browsing experience with Opera Mini. Today, I'll take a look at the Voice over IP, presence and instant messaging experience on the N97.

Unfortunately, there is not much to focus on at the moment. What I very much like on my (current) N95 is the integration of SIP telephony. Whenever I come home the N95 detects my Wi-Fi and automatically registers to my SIP VoIP provider sipgate and the phone becomes a combined cellular / cordless phone with a fixed line phone number and a cellular phone number. One would expect to find the same functionality in Nokia's latest flagship product but TO MY GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT the functionality was removed. The configuration menus are still present but the UI for making SIP phone calls from the phonebook or by typing in the phone number and then selecting "Internet Call" from the menu have been removed.

But what about the much touted Skype integration Nokia announced during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year? Again, a blank, no Skype to be seen anywhere on the phone. It made for good publicity then but if no actions follow, that kind of undermines credibility.

While it was one thump up in the last post, this post definitely ends with two thumbs down, my expectations for VoIP integration (based on the N95) were greatly disappointed. I don't really feel that connected anymore with the N97 :-(

Comments

[Bernie Goldbach]

After the N97 goes global, I wonder how difficult it will be to find a Skype.sisx file that does not link onto the 3 mobile network.

[Roe K]

I adore the Nokia N97, I just missed the Skype but use with a generic software

[Oliver]

I don't know if your terminal is an open market version or if you bought is as part of a mobile contract.

In the second case it is most likely that these features were removed by intention by the mobile operator as VOIP telephony is still contradicting to their classical voice business.

Additionally at least in Germany more or less all mobile operators explicitely exclude VOIP usage in their terms & conditions. This usually related to their mobile networks only (not Wifi) and nobody knows if they really identify and block VOIP traffic actively but in the end they at least use their power during purchasing negotiations what then could result in some kind of de-featuring.

[Ricky Cadden]

When Nokia announced the Skype integration on the N97, they very clearly stated that it would *not* be on the device at launch, but would come in a firmware update later in Q3 (http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2009/02/nokia-will-integrate-skype-in-nseries-soon.html)

[Martin]

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for clearing that up!

The link seems to be broken, here's one that works: http://tinyurl.com/ctkfhf

Cheers,
Martin

[Bogdan Moldovan]

In order to have VoIP UI, use http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/d61bd0ec-1304-45dd-9283-63d631cb86b1/SIP_VoIP_Settings_v1_2_en.sis.html

BR,