RunningWithBulls.com - The curse of Sanfermin

Nokia seem to be the only mainstream big mobile phone manufacturer that really get the idea of WiFi, and VOIP.

With the release of the N770 over 3 months ago people were wondering what exactly it would contain in terms of hardware, and software features.

The first thing has to be mentioned about the N770-its an Internet Tablet. The second thing is its a device for technical consumers.

Mainstream media seem to be bashing it. CNET complains:

• it relies only on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for connectivity - show me someone who has an RJ45 port beside their couch, which is where I will using one.
• VoIP and instant-messaging features have not yet been implemented - VOIP (at the time of writing was not included) has now been included, but IM was (in the form of GAIM).

The only mainstream media that seems to get the N770 is Walt Mossberg. He writes a fantastically simple (if thats possible!) account of the N770. He writes:

It’s called the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet and, true to its name, it concentrates on surfing the Web. The 770 can also send and receive email and instant messages, view images and videos, and play music and simple games. But its focus is on displaying Web sites really well.
If you are a gadget geek, or just want to surf the Web on a small device with a great screen, the 770 might be for you. But for most mainstream users, the 770 is a disappointment. With more horsepower and a revamped interface, it might get closer to the holy grail.

Whereas tech related media (the market the device was released for *initially*) loves it. The N770 won Engadget’s 2005 Handheld of the Year, before the damn device even released!

This shows that the mainstream media still don’t understand what the N770 *actually is*. No, its not a mobile phone, no its not a laptop, no its not a pda, MP3 player..etc.

It is an Internet enabled device that does stuff that requires Internet access. (Yes all the above require Internet access, but each is not a primary function).

As an example of who the clued-in companies are, lets take Linksys. Linksys are playing with the idea of bundling the Nokia 770 with their high-speed wireless router or gateway.

Thats the idea. Give the user the hardware to “unwire” their Internet access in their houses, instead of having them to sit at their desks, cabled to a computer.
With the release of the promised Gizmo based VOIP client (Palm are you listening?), Nokia are showing that they understand the problems with paying a Cell phone operator roaming charges, by creating devices for end users, and using open source, so developers like Blue Digits (who created the 770s Gizmo client for SIPPhone.com) They are covering their bases from both sides.
SIPPhone created Gizmo, the SIP client for their SIPPhone.com VOIP company. The only bad thing is that it is tied to using SIPPhone.com as VOIP provider. This may be different with the 770 client. I do hope so.

From all reports it sounds very good news.

With regards the bundling of 770s, Fon could benefit to subsidising the 770 with their routers also. Antoin are you listening?

[Update: Thanks to Bedlam for pointing out a line that looked like I was mentioning Nokia released Gizmo, when in fact it is SIPPhone.]